《I Accidentally Became a Legend!》


 1 Prologue

    Huff...huff...huff...I slowly fell into a steady trance as I leisurely jogged on a treadmill. My dark red hair swayed to the beat of my music and the sound of my feet pounding on the machine resounded throughout the empty room as I escaped from the problems that were swarming my mind. Whenever unpleasant memories started attacking me I would always turn to running.


    Running away was the only thing I could ever do with this weak and powerless will of mine. It was what I did when she died, it was what I did now.


    There go the memories again. With my face twisting in displeasure, I unconsciously picked up my slow jog into a sprint I desperately tried escaping from my own dark thoughts. My breathing fell out of sync with my feet and I suddenly found it terribly hard to breathe.


    Slipping on a drop of sweat that had fallen onto the conveyor belt I instantly found myself staring at the ceiling, gasping for breath while enduring the aching pains all over my body.


    "Yuri!? You okay?" My older brother yelled from upstairs, most likely surprised at the loud noise my tumble had caused.


    "Ah, yeah yeah, no problem whatsoever. I was just clumsy and dropped my water." I lied through my teeth as I quickly picked myself up from the ground.


    Sneakily splashing some water on the ground to cover up my lie, I fixed up my appearance and turned towards the doorway.


    "You shouldn''t lie to Kai like that big sis. I know he''s way too overprotective, but there''s a good reason for his worry." Said the figure who had suddenly appeared in the hall.


    "Oh! Toku, didn''t know you were there." I stated while using a towel to mop up the water. "Don''t tell him ''kay? He''s busy working on an assignment dad gave him so I don''t want to be a bother, you know?" I answered while grinning at my expressionless little brother.


    "Hm, sure." He responded with his black eyes staring uninterestedly at me before going back upstairs, his small figure and short black hair seemingly radiating boredom.


    Toku took after our handsome father, just like Kai had, with natural Japanese features and striking eyes. Although many girls in his grade had favorable opinions on him, he held to interest in the other gender.


    Ahhhh, what a waste of good looks, little bro, please hurry and bring in another female into this family! I prayed in my heart, clasping my two hands in front of my chest for a more dramatic effect. My looks were given to me by my foreign mother, who had lived in America until she had fallen for my dad, who was a transfer student at the time. After she died we moved back here in Japan but...Guh, these annoying thoughts just keep popping up today, how unlucky, especially since it''s the glorious weekend.


    Furiously shaking my head to get rid of the ideas that kept plaguing my mind, I snatched up my phone and towel from the ground walked upstairs.


    "Yuri~! Today''s the day! Sapphire is finally getting released!" Kai sang out once he saw me come up the stairs. His wavy dyed blond hair shining under the light, contrasting his dark brown eyes. "It''s everywhere on the news right now, let''s set up our capsules!"


    Yup, today was the day when my father''s company would finally release the world''s first virtual reality game to the general public. Ever since moving back to Japan ten years ago after my mother''s death, to escape the harsh reality that surrounded them Kai and my dad absorbed themselves in their research on virtual reality theories. Toku had dedicated himself to taekwondo, whereas I hid in studying and running. Surprisingly, their research had born fruit, and leaks of the game development had shocked the world. Over millions of people had already pre-ordered the capsules a year early, causing a stock of 50 million to sell out within a day.


    My dad, Rei, had named the game after his wife, and many quests and cities also held close relations to her. Of course, only he knew the plots and hidden secrets of the game, since he had forbidden Kai or Toku and me to help him with his creation.


    Thus, we could all play the game without cheating or prior knowledge. Sapphire was a very free game, all the game NPCs were given high intellect AI bots that could recreate emotion and improvise from knowledge gained from the main system. Basically, the game was a self-learning program, but that information was cut off from the world in fear of foreign countries disturbing the peace. In the game there were only a few rules that applied, most banned crime and harassment, making Sapphire a safe game for even young children to enjoy.


    "Hey Yuri, are you listening?" Kai asked with a pout of his face. "Man, you seem to always get caught up in your own thoughts, let dive into the game already!"


    "...hey brother, how old are you?"


    "Hm? Don''t tell me you forgot my age!?!" He cried out in shock and terror, disbelief showing plainly on his face. "I''m 21 okay?! My birthday is April 12, don''t tell me you forgot!"


    "Ah sorry, I might have mixed you up with Toku."


    "Kuh?!"


    Watching my older brother slump to the floor depressed, I mentally sighed. Why is his mental age so low?


    God, even Toku seems mature compared to him, someone please help this stupidly dense brother of mine. Maybe a girlfriend could set him straight, ah but that won''t work, he''s too dense. After all, he has tons of girls chasing after his handsome features, but he doesn''t seem to notice any of them. How disappointing.


    "I''ll go set up my capsule now then," Toku said monotonously while walking around Kai''s despairing figure. "The game releases in two minutes, you guys should start too."


    "Sure thing!" I replied with a cheerful smile, ignoring the sobbing man on the ground behind me.


    "Guhhh, don''t think your brother will fall from just this!" He shouted while leaping up and running after us.


    No, you did just fall from that, brother, you okay? For some reason, you seem even weirder than usual.


    We set up the settings of our respective gaming capsules and sat inside. The game''s time was accelerated twice as fast as reality, so one hour in the capsule meant two hours in the game. I leisurely brought the helmet over my head and leaned back inside of the capsule. Turning on the power, my world turned white and the game started booting up.


    What new world awaited me in here? Would it be a pleasant world or a sad one? I guess only time could tell.

 2 Welcome to Sapphire

    [Welcome to Sapphire]


    A woman''s voice sounded throughout my brain. Or was it my brain? I couldn''t tell, everywhere I looked was white, I couldn''t even see myself.


    While contemplating in my thoughts, dark blue gem faded into view and a timer could be seen carved into it. The seconds slowly ticked down with a satisfying click every time. I could probably easily fall asleep listening to the steady countdown. Above the sapphire, words could be seen.


    [The game will be released shortly, please be patient.]


    The current player count could also be read, already at a whopping 45 million users before the game had even been released.


    Dad, good job, you really did it this time.


    Before I knew it a new announcement could be heard.


    [5]


    Oh boy, I can imagine the number of players getting hyped up because of this.


    [4]


    [3]


    [2]


    [1]


    Huh, here we go then, hope I''m not the first death in the game at least. That would suck.


    [Player, please design your avatar! But remember, you can only change up to 15% from your real appearance, thank you for your patronage!]


    Hmmmmmm, okay, let''s just keep my appearance as it is. Too much of a hassle to change it if we''re only allowed 15%, you know?


    [Please enter your username:]


    I inputted the username that I had thought of earlier into the given slot.


    [Nice to meet you Lynx, please select your class]


    Errrrr, class? No showy ones, please. After all, being a swordswoman sounds really cringy after I read all those isekai light novels, yeah, no thanks. I don''t think I would like to be one of those sexy mages either. Um, I doubt I would like to be seen much and the only thing I like doing is running from stuff...I''ll be a ranger then, they look cool with those hoods. Also, rangers always tend to run away first, right?


    [Please select your region and starting country.]


    Zircon sounds like a cool place, I''m not surprised my dad added that in here, it does hold a resemblance to ''her'' after all.


    [Thank you very much for buying this game! We will now be transporting yo¡ª]


    H-huh, the voice was cut off? Hey, don''t tell me there''s a bug already, seriously, did they forget to check for mistakes in the beta tests? Wait, were there public beta tests in the first place?


    Oh, I bet dad just played the entire game while making it.


    {Congratulations User #000000001, for your devotion in the game as the first player, you will be awarded a special item and title. Keep up the good work!}


    This is a scam, major cheat, the heck...well, I guess he always liked reading those books where the protagonist gets a head start.


    Wait, but I''m not the main character or anything, I just want to stay in the shadows?!


    Ahhhhhh...how did this happen¡­


    [Thank you very much for buying this game! We will now be transporting you to your favored starting city. We hope you have a fun time!]


    Slowly, my white surroundings became blurred, and soon I had found myself in the midst of a large town square with not a player in sight.


    Um, this is awkward. All the NPCs are staring at me like some magical girl...I''ll just put my hood up real quick¡­


    After finally getting the gazes of the town folks off my back I resolved to take a good look around the town while it was still empty. Firmly deciding on my next course of action, I searched around for a good place to climb. Climbing''s okay right, cause all magical girls love climbing buildings right? Yup, let''s just leave it at that. Let''s just head towards that tall clock looking thing.


    Heading towards what I presumed to the town clock tower, I circled around it and found a rusty old door.


    Oh, the door''s unlocked, well isn''t that handy. Crap there''s a lot of steps, as I recall, stairs are my worst enemy, or at least a certain panda''s. Yosh, let''s do this.


    "Koohk!? The stairs were so hard to climb. Why is my stamina so bad¡­?" I muttered to myself while desperately trying to catch my breath at the top of the tower.


    Looking down at the town square I had spawned in, I saw a large swarm of players with more constantly spawning in.


    Thank heavens that I left early, I would''ve gotten claustrophobic, like that poor boy down there...ouch.


    Spending my time in a carefree state entranced by the scenery this game had to offer, I suddenly heard an old man''s voice come from behind me.


    "Mysterious adventurer, who I cannot inspect, do you find joy in watching those tiny gnats swarm the city?"


    "W-wha, when did you get here?!"


    Flustered, I quickly turned around and saw a man with military-style grey hair wearing an officer uniform staring at me with sharp and unrelenting eyes.


    "I asked you a question ranger, why can I not inspect you, and why do you smile while watching your kin tumble around like newborn?"


    "W-why, I just wanted to enjoy the scenery from here, sir" I responded with a twitching eye, trying my best to smile at the very extreme NPC.


    Father, please, I know you love your strict army officers but why would I encounter one this extreme just ten minutes into the game!?


    "You are quite an interesting person indeed, to enjoy looking down on others. I can sense determination from your eyes and you proved to have great endurance, climbing up a thousand stairs with such a frail body."


    My good sir, I can recommend a good eye doctor, I''ll pay for the examination.


    "...Thank you very much for the compliments, sir."


    "As a fellow ranger, answer me this question, why can I not inspect your stats even though it is plainly aware I am stronger?"


    ...This guy pisses me off more than my old grandmother. But hey, I want to know the answer to his question too. This weird dude can''t inspect my stats?


    "Sir, with all due respect I cannot answer your question."


    Uh oh, his eyes immediately turned from low harsh level too, do-you-want-to-die, harsh level. His aptitude with my grandmother really is the best, father, did you create this NPC after your own mother I wonder?


    "S-sir, don''t misunderstand, it is because I myself do not understand the reason why."


    "I see, well then please take off your hood, that may change things."


    My hood? Buddy, this hood is my lifeline from the many stares of scary NPCs!


    "Ah yes, of course."


    Gently taking off my beloved hood I looked at the stern officer once again. Happy now?


    "How interesting, young miss, you must treasure that cloak greatly. To have the power to block an inspect of a level 120 marshal while the hood is up is amazing." He stated in an amused tone, handsomely quirking his eyebrow up in surprise.


    N-no way...I quickly swiped open my menu and stared at my cloak in befuddlement. What the heck is this? The power to block inspect skill from anyone under level 200 with the hood up, the power to clock inspect skill from anyone under my level without the hood, 50% higher concealment, 10% boost to speed, Shadow Walker skill, and...bound to Lynx? So I can''t even drop this...DANG TOO OP!!! Ahhhh, has all the luck that was supposed to be mine, in reality, come here instead?!


    Suddenly remembering the special title they had also given me, I changed tabs and stared with wide eyes at what I saw.


    {Hidden VIP}


    Given to the first player of the game


    All NPCs will favor you unconsciously


    You will gain ownership to the Miasma Cloak


    You will gain an additional 2 skill and stat points every level gained


    No, freakn'', way. Hey, isn''t this just getting out of hand now? Oh right, I forgot about Mr. Scary who is still staring at me.


    "Sir, this cloak is definitely a treasure to me, thank you very much," I said while bowing in gratitude for opening my ignorant eyes. Seeing this the officer chuckled. Chuckled? No way, HE LAUGHED, didn''t expect that. Staring at him with eyes filled with astonishment, he walked up to me and patted me on the shoulder.


    "Young miss, you are very interesting and show a lot of promise as a ranger. Why not come under my wing and become my disciple? I, Marshall Abest, have been hoping to find one today, the foretold day where millions of adventurers are sent into our world."


    "D-disciple? Sir, I am not even sure how to attack with a knife! How could I become a marshalls disciple."


    Hehehe, my luck really is the best today. Better get the most out of it. Hearing my words, Abest smiled reassuringly.


    "Don''t worry, I will teach you everything you need to know, starting now!"


    He then picked me up and flung me over his shoulder, leaping off of the tower and over many rooftops.


    Nononono, how did this happen?! All I wanted was a secret quest?!


    "We have arrived at my squad training grounds. Here, I will shape you into the greatest ranger in the world, you will even surpass me!"


    Gulp, my goodness, why are all the troops here staring at me with awe and respect? Please don''t raise their expectations...I''m shy, I think.


    [Hidden Class Quest: Disciple of a Legend, has been unlocked. You have earned these for being the first to find one.


    200000 xp


    10 reputation points among NPCs


    10 gold coins


    1 Achievement]


    Hey hey hey! I should go and buy a game lotto ticket after, I bet I would get something good.


    "I see the overflowing potential within you! Will you accept this honor, young adventurer?"


    Hell yeah! Let''s go baby, make me overpowered!


    "It would be my honor, sir!


    "Hmph, looks like I wasn''t wrong choosing you, from this day on everything you do will represent me! Everyone here will be a witness of this fact, make me proud, Ranger Lynx!" He proclaimed with a slight smile, while all the troops watching gave a loud cheer, raising their weapons in the air.


    Oh yeah~...this is gonna be my path to fame in this game! Let''s get em!


    And thus, the legend of Lynx, the ''Humming Shadow'' was born, not that she knew it at all.

 3 The Two Brothers at that Time

    "Hey little bro, why are there so many people at the special corps barracks?"


    "I dunno Kai, cough, I mean Beryl, must be some special quest. Let''s take a look."


    In the currently crowded town square, two handsome brothers stood at from the crowd, with many females swarming them with friend and party requests.


    If Yuri was here to see this right now, she would most likely be screaming in frustration at the fact that Kai was too dense, and Toku was just not interested.


    Ah, but of course, she was dense as well, her outstanding foreign beauty would also draw attention from many males but she never noticed, too focused on her thoughts.


    Leisurely walking towards the barracks, the crowd of people seemed to part like a sea, with males looking in envy and girls looking in awe. Once again, it''s not like they noticed though, the entire family should go see an eye doctor together some day.


    "I wonder what Yuri is doing? I hope she''s not getting picked up by any guys...." Kai, or Beryl, muttered while nervously looking around for her, unintentionally causing many females to swoon after getting looked at.


    "She''s too dense to notice, I guess she beats you at that huh." The little brother retorted while completely ignoring the screaming girls, causing some perverted masochists in the crowd to fall in ecstasy.


    "Well, she''s a curious girl, I bet she''s at the barracks right now too. We can probably meet her there."


    "Oh! Good idea, Tok¡ªahem, Lapis."


    "Let''s just hurry up¡­" Lapis sighed while picking up his pace, eager to figure out the commotion that had piqued his rarely shown interest.


    After finally arriving at their destination, the pair of brothers pushed through the dense crowd of onlookers to only find a line of NPCs guarding entry to the training field.


    "What the fuck? I''m fed up of this, lemme in stupid NPCs, I have a class quest I need to do!" An angry onlooker roared while losing his cool, taking up his beginner sword he attempted to charge through, only to be cut down instantly.


    Instantly the crowd fell silent, staring at the white particles of the dead swordsman.


    "W-what the heck?" Whispered a mage girl, who had been standing next to the man. "What''s so important that you don''t even hesitate to kill someone!?" She furiously interrogated the guards while gripping her staff.


    "Ma''am please back off, the training grounds will reopen in a couple of minutes. In addition, adventurers like you do not lose their souls when killed, at worst you become weaker." An NPC emotionlessly answered while staring at the girl. "Thank you for your cooperation."


    "...hey Beryl, do you see Yuri anywhere?" Lapis asked while trying to get a look inside the training grounds.


    "Errrr, she didn''t tell us her class or username ahead of time so I''m not sure."


    "Dammit, I can''t see anything past these NPCs, how come whenever I''m finally interested in something I''m blocked from finding out?" Lapis grumbled while grinding his teeth in annoyance. "Tsk, this is so frustrating."


    "I''ll just politely ask the guards for information then!" Beryl exclaimed optimistically while confidently walking up to the guards and asking in a polite tone. "Excuse me, kind sir, would you be willing to tell me what sort of event is going on so I could enjoy it with you?"


    "Oh, Marshall Abest is finally choosing his first disciple!" He excitedly said with a slip of the tongue. But realizing his mistake he quickly turned pale and froze up, a pale layer of sweat was seen on his forehead.


    Seeing such a charismatic figure must have compelled the guard to loosen his lips for a short amount of time. But everyone watching knew that it was pure luck, a second time would not happen.


    "...brother, you are just too charismatic for your own good," Lapis said while rubbing the bridge of his nose is a very tired manner. "You managed to make a trained AI slip up...maybe this game is just really realistic."


    "Hm? What do you mean Lapis? All I did was politely ask the nice guards." He noted with a confused look on his face, managing to charm many ladies who were, unfortunately, standing behind Toku.


    "Oh sorry, I forgot that you''re an idiot. Let''s go check the Record Hall to see if there''s anything interesting." Turning around he boldly ignored the multiple advances on him, pushing many people out of the way in the process, heading towards a large building.


    "H-hey! Wait up Lapis, and what did you mean by that?!" Kai cried out while frantically chasing after his little brother, politely excusing himself from the invites thrown at him.


    The duo then soon arrived at the Record Hall, where all the various leaderboards and records would be posted for everyone to see. It also included guild creations and PK bounty quests.


    "Hey Beryl, would you look at that, someone''s already at level 3!" Toku gasped in shock while staring at the only name listed on the center leaderboards. "It''s incredibly hard to level up in this game, to get to level three would require around 200,000 exp! It''s practically impossible to do such a feat while only one hour into the game, this Lynx is not a simple player."


    "Lapis, this Lynx fellow is number one on the ranger list and also on the achievements list, what does that mean?"


    Hearing this, Toku quickly checked the board that Kai had mentioned, his mouth dropping open when seeing Lynx''s name once again listed on the achievements board.


    "A-amazing...now I understand how they boosted their level so fast. They must have unlocked a hidden quest...or maybe a special weapon or class quest? But the chances of doing something like that so early on...must have happened in town a few moments ago..." He muttered to himself, not knowing that he was right on the money.


    Toku was very brilliant and intelligent, in fact, if he tried hard enough he could have skipped more than enough grades to graduate immediately. But his only fault was that he never did anything that didn''t interest him, for example, making friends or becoming famous.


    However, the game had captured his interest, leaving him thirsting for more every second he was playing.


    "Ah! The commotion at the barracks!" He suddenly exclaimed while perking up in understanding. "It was unusual, much too early for a development like that to happen while people were still joining the game. If what the guard had said earlier was correct then someone must have convinced an important NPC to take them as his disciple. That means Lynx must have gotten a rare class quest. Lucky bastard, who is he, some protagonist in a book or something?" He scoffed while clicking all the pieces together, accurately guessing the events that had happened to Yuri in a matter of seconds.


    "U-um Lapis, why didn''t you help me and dad while creating the capsule again?" Kai asked with a twitching smile that didn''t reach his eyes. "We could have finished years earlier¡­"


    "Not interested in engineering." He constantly dismissed, completely ignoring his older brother.


    "Hmmm, now that I think about it, to achieve a hidden quest a user must have certain qualifications. Father always loved hiding cheat like powers in games, Lynx must have stumbled across one of those." Toku confirmed confidently while grinning with satisfaction. "Now remember, my stupid brother, do not mess with Lynx! Because father always makes cheat powers way to OP! You can do that much right?"


    "Don''t forget that I helped him design the capsule! I''m not stupid! In fact, I think of myself as pretty smart!?" The abused brother cried out in anguish while desperately trying to regain some of his dignity in front of his younger sibling.

 4 The Everyday School Life

    "Sir, I''ve finished running ten laps!" I shouted while saluting the Marshall with the pose that he had mercilessly drilled into me.


    This guy, he isn''t even my old grandmother anymore, he''s the reincarnation of the devil! The quest I had got was a hidden chain quest which forced me to do whatever Abest asked of me. Although every branch I finished gave plentiful awards, but the things I had to do...how is this even a game anymore!?


    Pushups, situps, archery, combat, how is this a game quest, this is just working out! The only positive part was that I got to run a lot, thank god.


    "Good job Lynx, you can feel yourself stronger than before right?" He said while looking me over from head to toe in satisfaction.


    I had taken off the cloak because it kept getting in the way, underneath was the rookie equipment that was given to every player.


    Plain leather armor with a small iron dagger strapped to my side. I also had a bow and quiver hanging on my back.


    What he said was true, my stats have gone up a crazy amount just from the rewards of the quest. Starting players are supposed to have ten stat points to start, and three per level up, but I already had 30 points at level three which I added most agility.


    That''s pretty good if I do say so myself.


    Lynx


    Level 5


    Titles: Hidden VIP, Disciple of Marshall Abest


    Class: Ranger


    Achievements: 1


    Health: 209


    Attack: 51


    Defense: 78


    Strength: 5


    Agility: 22


    Dexterity: 1 (+5)


    Vitality: 2 (+10)


    Intelligence: 0


    Luck: 0


    Charisma: 0


    I assumed since my luck was already so good I didn''t need to waste stat points on more, and I didn''t see the need for charisma either. Both my dexterity and vitality have permanent points thanks to the ranger training, basically, I''m feeling pretty cheat right now!


    What? I''m too OP? Pfffft, no no, this is nothing compared to Toku''s natural smarts or Kai''s overwhelming charisma right? My family is just blessed, yeah, let''s keep it at that.


    [Disciple of a Legend - 4/12]


    "Okay, next up we have some hands-on training. Take this coin and go to the town center, use it in the lotto. Any disciple of mine should have excellent luck, it is what keeps us alive! You may keep the awards, you pass if it is rare or above."


    ...This guy is really weird, did he notice how good my luck was? I was going to go check out the lotto after this, I guess I might as well do it now! Lucky me.


    The items in Sapphire were categorized in a very normal manner. Common, Unique, Special, Rare, Sub-Legendary, Legendary, and then finally Mythical. Rare was right in the middle right? Shouldn''t be that hard...I think.


    "I won''t disappoint you, sir!"


    "I know you won''t, now get going."


    "Yes, sir!"


    You know, ever since I was a kid I was praised for my good acting skills. I might actually believe in myself now.


    I equipped my cloak and quickly leaped over the side, following the route my mentor had taken back to the tower at my top speed. Catching sight of my destination I jumped down into an abandoned alley and naturally walked into the building.


    The lotto was currently empty, since the game had just been launched, and everyone was busy exploring the town or finding their friends. Seeing only a few parties chatting here and there, I walked up to the machine and slipped in the coin, pushing the button to roll the lotto.


    Cmon, cmon, lucky, lucky...I''ll be happy with just a rare!


    [Bing bing bing! You have won the self-design gloves from the lotto machine! Thank you for your patronage!]


    [Congratulations! You are the first person in the game to obtain a rare item, you have earned:


    1 Achievement


    20 gold


    5 reputation among NPCs


    Title "Hoarder"


    150000 xp]


    [Congratulations! You are the first person to use the lotto, you have earned:


    10000 xp]


    Huh? No, wait a sec¡ª!


    [Congratulations! You are the first person to obtain a rare title, you have earned:


    1 Achievement


    20 reputation among NPCs


    30000 xp


    30 gold]


    ...What is this speechlessness I''m feeling right now? ...Should I do something or...I''ll just ignore what happened and head back.


    I''ll also ignore how I just jumped up two levels and how I easily got 50 gold and how NPCs are staring at me with quite a lot of respect. ...Yeah, let''s go see my good ol'' master.


    Now look here, the reason Yuri had been bewildered is because at only five hours into the game she has managed to level up five times. Normal level one mobs only drop around 50 xp each, and leveling up to level five would take a sum of 350000 xp, which is around 700 mobs killed in less than five hours. It was an impossible feat to do when players were still getting used to the system. In addition, achievement points were supposed to be incredibly difficult to obtain, only after doing something very unique would players get one. But Yuri had managed to obtain three easily without meaning too. And don''t forget, at level three the average player would only have 19 stat points to distribute, but she had 45 which made her incredibly overpowered. It was no wonder that Toku had been so interested in such a player, Yuri was an everyday game maker''s nightmare.


    I quickly ran back towards the training grounds along the rooftops, making sure no one got suspicious of me and annoyed me with pestering questions.


    Finally arriving back at the grounds I found my mentor and showed him the gloves I had won, earning myself a half-hearted compliment. Once I got my next mission I noticed that it was already midnight and that I had to log out.


    Saying goodbye to Abest, I went into a spare barracks and logged out.


    Blinking a couple of times to get myself adjusted to the dark capsule I pushed the lid up and got out. Realizing that my two brothers were still in the game I tiptoed into my room and fell onto the bed, going over my day in my head.


    Today wasn''t so bad huh. I''m pretty sure that I''m doing well in the game, and I even have some cool titles I could show off. Master Abest is scary...but I still have school tomorrow, I don''t have time to think about these things.


    Changing into my pajamas I got ready to sleep and then slipped into my bed.


    I wish I didn''t have to go to school...I hate it there.


    "Yuri! Good morning, you head out to school already?" Kai asked while walking into the kitchen with toothbrush still stuck in his mouth.


    "Good morning Kai. I''m going to job there so I''m heading out a little earlier."


    "I understand but, isn''t going out an hour before a little too early since it''s so close¡­?"


    "I''m a slow runner."


    "Oh, okay! Take care then!


    After putting on my shoes and shouldering my bag, I checked that my uniform was in place and I headed out the door.


    With my brother out of sight my fake smile instantly disappeared from my face. School absolutely sucked. It''s not like I like lying to my family, I just didn''t want to cause trouble.


    Unwilling to think about it any longer, I steadied my ragged breathing.


    Turning my steady walk into a sprint, I dashed to school, leaving my thoughts behind as I focused on the ground below me.


    Before I knew it I had arrived at school, slowly walking to my class to catch my breath I settled my disgruntled look and patted down my long hair. Looking down at my desk in the empty classroom, I took a rag and started wiping off the cruel remarks and jokes that were written on it in black ink.


    After half an hour I had finally cleaned off my desk, throwing the rag away I sat down and started reading over the things we had learned last week to catch up on material that I couldn''t memorize.


    Slowly students started trickling into the class, once the first bell rang I put down the book and faced the teacher that had walked in, ignoring the gazes of hatred that I felt on my back.


    "Has everyone heard of the new game Sapphire?" The teacher asked everyone once the class had settled down.


    Everyone immediately nodded in response. Who didn''t know of the game that had practically taken over the world? Almost everyone in the class who could afford it had played yesterday, the teacher included.


    "Good, I know that you guys love experiencing such a realistic new world, but make sure you don''t forget your real life priorities. Sometimes it can be hard to tell reality from virtual, but I have faith in my students." He warned us with a stern tone, looking us all in the eyes before moving onto the lesson.


    My first class went by peacefully, but by the time lunch came along that peace was ruthlessly shattered. I had just handed in some papers to the student office and stepped back into the classroom once trouble appeared.


    "Hey, some trash just walked into the room, sorry, the garbage can is full today!" A boy mockingly howled while strutting towards me, pointing at my desk which was littered with waste and leftovers. "But since I''m such a nice guy, I''ll escort you to the dump myself!" He provoked while earning the jeering and laughter of his group of followers.


    Sadly, I had nothing to say to people like him, retorting just caused more trouble.


    Seeing that I was not responding, he furiously grabbed my shoulder and pushed me into the empty hallway.


    "You bitch. You better not be ignoring me!" He sneered darkly while slamming me into a wall.


    "Nnnh!?"


    A sharp pain shot through my spine, leaving me groaning in pain.


    I couldn''t stifle the shock and crouched onto the ground as he punched a sharp jab into my ribcage.


    "I''m the king of this school, and commoners like you should be honored to even have the chance to lick my shoes!"


    The sound of cheers and shouts could be heard from the class, encouraging him to go further on his harassment. The hallway was still devoid of people because rarely anyone left their classes during lunch since our school didn''t have a cafeteria. Ryuu continued to punch and shout at me, the intense pain threatening to knock me out.


    Even so, I bit my lip and didn''t move.


    There was no need to cause trouble over bullying, my dad''s too busy with work and my brothers shouldn''t have to take responsibility for my actions.


    Don''t make trouble. As long as he doesn''t hit my face no one can do anything about it, right?


    Repeating to myself to stay calm in my mind, I kept my face expressionless and took all the abuse without resistance.


    Ryuu''s acts of abuse and harassment were just a routine part of my life, it happened almost every day when we came across each other. Almost no one did anything about it since his father was an influential figure in the country''s government and was not to be provoked. I didn''t mind, people had the right to mind their own business. To be honest it made it easier for me to attract less attention.


    Yuri wasn''t always bullied at school. After her mother had passed away, her family had decided to move to Japan, where her father started up a company with Kai.


    At school, she used to be admired and loved as an honor student by many students and teachers. Her outstanding foreign beauty and her friendly personality caught the attention of many boys and girls alike.


    But many people were jealous of her talents and caught wind of her past that she tried so hard to hide.


    They used that to spread a nasty rumor over the summer behind her back and slowly her friends all trickled away.


    "Hey, hey. You better be listening to me, you prick!" He shouted while once again kicking me in the ribcage.


    My sides throbbed with pain and I could barely move my right arm.


    Ah, once I get home I would have to wear long pants and clothes again...what a pain. It got really hot these days since it was still summer not long ago, so wearing warm clothing was annoying.


    "Oi oi oi, what did I just say!"


    "Hey! What do you think you''re doing to Yuri!" A girl''s voice sounded out in the empty hallway. She took one glance at me and then sternly peered at Ryuu with a questioning glare.


    "O-oh, hello Akane, I was just teaching this girl a small lesson, that''s all." He stuttered politely while backing away, a fake smile spread across his face.


    "That''s a teacher''s job. You shouldn''t be the one judging another student!" She snapped while helping me back to my feet. "Class is gonna start soon, let''s go, Yuri!"


    "Ah, okay." I responded in a flat tone, dusting myself off and ignoring the piercing pain I felt in my arm.


    Reluctantly following us back into the room, Ryuu rejoined his group of followers and ignored me for the rest of the day. Akane''s parents were the descendants of the founders of this school, and even Ryuu''s father couldn''t do much against them.


    She was a very cheerful girl who looked at everything from a positive view, I don''t remember her ever joining in on the bullying. Ryuu also secretly liked the girl and didn''t want her opinion on him to drop.


    Yet, even though he did not disturb her, many others still did. While getting ready for classes she was tripped, her desk was drawn on, her supplies often disappeared and even abuse was not uncommon.


    However, even with constant bullying, she didn''t react to anything. If her lunch was spilled she would simply skip the meal, she would laboriously erase all ink markings on her desk and even memorize the lessons if she couldn''t take notes.


    As long as the abuse did not show and stayed under her clothes she would pay no heed to what happened.


    This was her everyday school life.


    Teachers could not do anything if she didn''t as for help, so they treated her normally every day while turning a blind eye to her obvious suffering.


    But even with the harassment her grades never dropped and her athletic ability was top notch. The daily bullying had forced her to become stronger both mentally and physically, and her natural intellect was pushed every day to the limits from memorizing class materials.


    She took all of it in stride and just focused on successfully making it through the day.

 5 My bad! I just got my first boss kill.

    Ahhhhhhh, I made it! I made it through the day! Rejoice, for the final bell has rung, and the children are leaving.


    I rapidly packed up all my supplies and made a mad dash for the back wall, successfully avoiding the main groups that bullied me and keeping out of sight.


    There it is! Freedom is in sight.


    Building strength into my legs I agilely kicked against the wall with my right foot and leaped up, planting my uninjured left hand on top of the wall to support my weight and cleared the 2-meter wall.


    While jumping over my sleeve collar shifted up and my hummingbird tattoo on my wrist was revealed.


    Crap, I hope no one saw that, I think I''m good.


    I landed safely on the other side with bent knees and caught my breath before taking my familiar route home through back alleys with a quick jog, leaping over short walls or obstacles in the same manner as before. I managed to arrive home in less than five minutes, a new record!


    Walking through the front door I noticed that no one had arrived home yet, Toku must still be at school, and Kai and dad are probably both at work.


    I guess I''ll just dive into the game myself today!


    Dashing into my room I changed out of my uniform and wore a baggy hoodie with sweatpants that easily hid the new bruises I got at school.


    Opening up my capsule, I got comfy and closed my eyes, excited for what I would do in the game this time. My surroundings soon blurred and became the familiar barracks that I had logged out in. Walking out to the training ground I spotted my master talking with a few players who were probably looking for quests to take.


    Not wanting to disturb them, I energetically ran through the rookie obstacle course a few time, warming up my stiff body before I started on the missions.


    Oh! I should probably check out those gloves I got yesterday. Opening up empty inventory I equipped my gloves, suddenly a notification rang through my head.


    [Please design your bound gloves, they will be impossible to trade or drop once you do so.]


    Man, this system is putting me on the spot. Ermmm, let''s go with a sapphire, but the hummingbird and not the gem. Designing a violet hummingbird identical to my tattoo, I placed on the back of the left glove and hit the okay button.


    [Lynx''s Hummingbird Gloves have successfully been created.]


    This is so cool! But I''ll wear it once I''m out of town, wearing it around might attract unnecessary attention. I happily put them back into my inventory and sneaked a glance at my mentor. Still talking, ugh, I just want my next mission!


    "Pfffft, hey look at that nooby ranger over their pointlessly running the obstacle over and over again. Hah!"


    Hm? Hey sir, you know that I can hear you right? And also, my master is right in front of your face, and he doesn''t look real happy...


    "Tch, how despicable, if you find it fun to look down on people training hard then I will find to peace in leaving you to do my tasks. Look somewhere else!" Abest lectured the swordsman sternly while swiftly turning away from the party.


    "H-hey wait! You''re just some important NPC! Don''t act so cocky dammit!" The stunned player said while blood rushed up his face. Realizing that I was staring at them, he stomped towards me. "It''s all your fault you noob!"


    Ignoring his panicking teammates who were desperately trying to calm him down, he rushed up to me with his sword drawn.


    Huh? Why does he look really familiar for some reason, do I know him?


    "You should just go die. I spent so long trying to get Marshall Abest on my good side but you just had to ruin it for me!"


    "Fang! Stop, he''s looking this way!" A mage screamed while worriedly glancing at Abest who was staring at me.


    Then my mentor grinned and looked the other way. Suddenly a notification window popped up.


    Wait, the guy''s halfway here! Screw you master, lemme run first dammit!


    Skimming over the information my mouth dropped open in bewilderment.


    [Disciple of a Legend: Quest updated 5/12


    Goal: A player is unjustly trying to kill you in front of Marshall Abest, you must kill him to make your mentor proud!


    Failure: You will have to re-do the entire quest chain for more training, no rewards will be given


    Success: You will be given a higher reputation among the witnessing NPCs and the next mission of the quest chain]


    Arghhh fine! I''ll do it! You stupid program, all I wanted was to be an invisible player with no grudges...ngggh¡­I don''t wanna.


    "Die!" Fang howled while swinging his sword down at me.


    Why is his form full of so many holes? Is an average player supposed to be so weak? This is nothing compared to the training Toku gives me once a week.


    I easily sidestepped and took out my knife, feinting to the left and then circling around him.


    Stabbing him in the back would be hard with such a flimsy knife, so I fluently switched to a reverse grip and cut at his open throat. His health instantly plummeted and he died with a shocked expression on his face, fading into white particles.


    Ah, well thanks for making my job easier, Fang.


    "No way...Fang was one-shot?"


    "H-hey did you guys capture that on camera? That''s an expert right there!"


    "I think we were all too shocked to get it on film, ugh."


    Um, aren''t you his party members? Are you really supposed to be acting like this?


    [Goal achieved:


    20 reputation among NPCs


    Marshall Abest looks towards you more favorably]


    My master walked up to me with proud steps, patting me on the back.


    "Heh, that was better than I expected Lynx! You did me mighty proud right there. Good work!"


    "It''s all thanks to your guidance sir!" I responded with a cheerful smile.


    In the distance Fang''s party members were shocked, the strict Marshall was actually patting a player on the back! They hurriedly kicked Fang out of the party and left the training grounds, scared that their reputation would drop if they stayed any longer.


    "You are growing very fast, I have good eyes! But there is a monster currently inhabiting the nearby forest. I want you to go slay it and keep the town safe!"


    No, I''ve been doubting your eyesight since I met you. Fix that statement.


    [Quest Updated: The halfway point - 6/12


    Abest is very proud of your performance, but you need to do more to show him that you are ready!


    Go out into the ''Beginner''s Forest'' and kill the King of the Forest.


    Failure: N/A


    Success: You will be given a higher reputation among the town''s NPCs and the next mission of the quest chain.]


    "Yes, sir! I won''t fail your expectations, sir!"


    I leaped up to the nearest roof and headed towards the forest.


    Eh, for some reason running on the roofs is so much faster than walking down in the crowds. Makes me feel safer too, weird.


    In addition, for some reason the player Fang makes me feel uneasy, I keep having a nagging feeling that I''ve met him somewhere before. But whatever, I had my hood on so I should be fine.


    In less than a minute I had arrived at the gate while running at top speed. Scaling the wall, I sneakily leaped over while bypassing multiple guards, lining up to pay the gate fee was too boring. The guards were pretty weak too, although they averaged level 60 they couldn''t sense me at all.


    Swiftly jumping over the wall, I dashed into the forest, eager on completing this mission and getting another reward.


    Oh, I just realized that I don''t even know where to find this boss. Crap, my bad.


    Quietly climbing up a tall tree I jumped from branch to branch, trying to find a good place to open up the game forums and search for information.


    Spotting a good place to settle down in a tall tree, I checked my surroundings and then opened up the forum pages.


    ...


    Why is the headliner a picture of...me!? No, wait what? Catching myself from falling off the tree in shock, I steadied myself and opened up the post.


    [Mysterious cloaked player one shot seventh highest ranker and is patted on the back by Abest!]


    Hm? For some reason, this sounds really familiar...don''t tell me Fang''s party members posted about him getting killed?


    Must hurt his ego.


    Reading the comments I found a few that caught my eye.


    -{Oh my god, I personally know how scary that NPC is. How in the world did that ranger get such a high favorability!? Brother ranger, if you see this, take me as your humble disciple!!!}


    -{Being able to one shot Fang isn''t a big deal, everyone knows that he''s just a spoiled pay-to-win player.}


    -{I bet anyone ten copper that the mysterious ranger is actually the top ranker Lynx. No, I''ll even bet 20.}


    My identity has been exposed. Let''s just hope that no one believes him.


    Someone called Lynx is the top ranker. Wait, isn''t that my username?!?


    ¡­


    That''s cool, okay.


    ...


    Now that I think about it, why is the seventh ranker so weak? And did someone just say that I''m the top ranker? ¡­ I''ll just ignore this entire episode and look for information on that boss. Yeah, that''s what I''ll do, I never saw this post.


    Searching up information on the King of the Forest that I was told to subjugate, I found a particular post that stood out.


    [My entire party was wiped out by a giant mob in the beginner''s forest?! Developers fix this bug!]


    There was also a photo attached to the post and coordinates at where they died. I guess I''ll head over and see if that monster is still nearby then.


    Gracefully flying through the air, I grabbed onto a nearby branch and flung myself farther, repeating the action again and again.


    If someone saw me they would probably think someone was a Tarzan wannabe. Once again I was reminded of how grateful I was to my precious cloak!


    Quickly arriving where the boss was last seen I heard shouting and battle sounds resounding nearby.


    Did someone get here before me? Tch, it would take too long to wait for the monster to respawn. I''ll check the situation out first.


    Hiding high up in a tree I peeked over at the fight.


    There were around twenty players all attacking a giant orc at once.


    Hey, isn''t that a little overkill?


    However, right after I had that thought I noticed how little damage each player was doing to the King of the Forest.


    The Inspect skill that is given to every player is really useful in these situations.


    Overall the boss had 100,000 health, and each hit from an average player only did 10 damage. That would mean that each player in the party will have to hit the boss 500 times to kill it.


    I patiently watched them bring the health of the boss down slowly. If I was going to finish this mission I would have to play dirty, no way around it.


    Once the boss was down to 3% only 6 players were still alive.


    Alright, time to make my move.


    Dropping down from my perch I sneaked behind a male mage who was busy firing off spells and was blind to his surroundings.


    With my gloves equipped, I hooked my left hand around his mouth and quickly pulled him into a bush. Holding my rookie knife in my right hand I fluently swiped it across his defenseless neck, instantly killing him with a critical hit.


    A clear sound rang out in my head and notifications popped up, but I didn''t have time for that right now. I ignored the tabs and slid them to the side of my view.


    One down, five to go!


    The rest of the players were too preoccupied with trying not to get hit that they didn''t notice their mage''s unnatural death.


    Choosing a female priest as my next target I crept up with the Shadow Walker skill, which lets me become invisible to everyone under my level for a minute. Too bad it had a cool-down of two hours.


    I''m sorry for being so overpowered. My bad.


    Standing right in front of the unknowing girl, I covered her mouth with my hand pushed her down.


    Once again taking my knife I cut her throat in the same manner. The priest''s low health instantly vanished, white particles covering her corpse. She didn''t even have time to figure out how she died.


    That''s two down.


    Jumping back up onto a tree, I scanned the four people left. It won''t be long before they find out someone is trying to steal their kill.


    Oh, there they go.


    Their attacks became more rushed, trying to kill the boss as quick as they could, as they paranoidly looked around trying to find the mysterious killer.


    There, the ranger was killed after becoming too hurried, good job boss.


    Three players left!


    Taking my beginner''s bow I shot at the orc''s left hand, where the tank of their team was struggling to keep aggro.


    The knockback of the arrow moved the arm slightly back, conveniently helping the boss avoid the tank''s charge skill.


    Tank down, rest in peace.


    With the aggro now focused on the defenseless thief and swordsman, the orc easily cut them both down, switching his attention to me, who was still perched in a tree.


    His health was already below 1% so I charged forward with my knife, determined to finish my mission.


    Sliding underneath his legs to dodge an overhead smash I turned and stabbed at his open back, leaping backward to avoid another sweep of his club.


    Ah, I forgot how useless my rookie knife was¡­


    The knife that I had supposedly stabbed into his heart had only penetrated his skin, barely damaging him.


    Instinctively jumping into a tall tree to avoid another swing of his large club, I took out my bow and shot at his eye.


    The giant orc roared at me in frustration, clawing at his busted eye while recklessly swinging his weapon at the tree.


    Barely jumping out of the tree I quickly perched in another, aiming once again for his vital areas.


    I shot another arrow, jumped to another tree.


    And I did it again. Behold my grand kiting technique!


    Don''t make fun of me, if you want strategies, go to Toku.


    Oh, while I''m doing this, were you wondering why a beginner like me could pinpoint the boss'' exact critical areas?


    That''s cause Kai is a master at archery, and he teaches me during his free time.


    You don''t need to point it out, I know my family is pretty special.


    Oh no, I ran out of arrows.


    ¡­


    Am I supposed to punch this guy to death?


    While busying myself with becoming Tarzan and thinking of how I would kill this orc, I suddenly spotted the knife that was still miserably stuck on its back.


    Bingo.


    Instead of retreating to another tree as I did before, I waited until the boss was close enough to touch before I made my move.


    Pushing off the tree I somersaulted over the giant and landed on its shoulders, yanking out the knife and mercilessly stabbing it into its other eye.


    The orc''s angry roar shook the forest, in his rage it dropped his club and attempted to grab hold of me.


    Deftly avoiding his grasp, I used its back as a springboard and leaped back.


    Picking up the club that it had thrown aside, I used it against him and swung hard at the knife that was still buried in its face. The knife was forced through its skull, piercing its brain and finally finishing off the rest of the boss'' health.


    A sound once again rang through my mind, I ignored it and focused my gaze on the loot.


    Whew, killing a boss sure is taxing on my stamina, I need to work out more.

 6 The System sure is Generous!

    Immediately after I had picked up the loot the orc had dropped, notifications filled my screen once again. I found a safe spot in a tree and slowly sorted through them.


    [Congratulations! You are the first player to kill another both outside and inside of town. You have earned:


    1 Achievement


    Title: ''Predator''


    Two-faced Mask


    +1 Charisma]


    So I guess killing Fang gave me more benefits than I expected! The Predator title gave me a skill called Intimidation, that could stun monsters or even chase weak ones away. It also made the NPCs respect and hold me in high regard.


    That''s a bonus, but NPCs already do that¡­


    When I saw the description for the mask I had obtained, I almost fell out of the tree.


    The Two-faced Mask was really amazing, but could only be used once the player had obtained five achievement points. It lets the user create an alternate persona which would be switched manually.


    To be honest, it looked really badass too. Too bad I only had three points.


    [Congratulations! You are the first player to defeat a forest boss. You have earned:


    +1 Charisma


    5 gold


    10000 xp]


    Hm hm, not bad at all. I watched my experience bar rise up an eighth, surprised at the amount that was given.


    How generous.


    [Congratulations! You are the first player to solo a boss. You have earned:


    +10 Charisma


    50 gold


    70000xp


    Title: ''Lone Hunter'']


    1 Achievement


    My experience bar immediately rose to level six, creating a faint glow around my body. The Lone Hunter title also boosted my reputation among NPCs and also gave me a 10% damage buff while hunting alone.


    Did I really do something that amazing? I feel like these rewards were too plentiful for something as simple as just killing a boss. But I won''t complain! Now I was only one achievement away from equipping the mask, that''s good news.


    Finally finished clearing out my screen, I opened up my inventory to take a look at what I had obtained from the orc boss. It had dropped five items at its death, boots, a belt, a breastplate, a robe, and a mace. There was also a piece of gold, which could be considered a lot to average players.


    The boots were level three and boosted agility by 2%.


    Not terrible, at least they''re better than my rookie ones. I equipped my new pair of boots.


    The robe and mace were common level three equipment, which could be considered as valuable at this stage in the game. I''ll sell them on the auction house later since I had no use for them.


    Finally, there was the leather breastplate. It was a unique grade level four armor, a very valuable piece of equipment for experts or rankers. It boosted defense by defense by 20 and strength by one stat point.


    Sigh...as I thought, unique things just cannot be compared to common items.


    I equipped the brand new leathers and headed back towards the city, where my master would be most likely waiting.


    Along the way I busied myself with kil¡ªI mean ''self-defense''.


    Cough cough, I swear I simply protected myself.


    Arriving at the city wall I had already gathered myself a nice bounty of 25 kills.


    You know, for some reason while I was fighting those players, a catchy tune was stuck in my head. I hope none of the people I killed heard my humming...that''s embarrassing.


    Lithely scaling the wall, I avoided a few guard patrols and slipped back into the city.


    Running over the familiar rooftops and many back alleys I easily made my way back to the ranger training grounds. Only to find it crowded by eager rangers all looking for something.


    What was so amazing about this lame barracks? These people must have lost their minds.


    Taking off my hood and gloves to blend in with the crowd, I slowly made my way to Abest, who had locked himself in his room in annoyance.


    Tch, scary cat.


    I rounded the building and climbed up onto the roof, although some guards caught me in the act. Lucky for me, they recognized me as Abest''s disciple and slyly looked away.


    Thank you very much, I''ll buy you a drink later.


    Noting their names, I crawled into my mentor''s room.


    "What is my disciple doing, crawling around on rooftops like a rat?" A deep voice quietly said behind me.


    I quickly whipped around and saluted my master.


    "Sir! It was just too crowded outside and I dislike catching attention!"


    "Good, rangers are not like those vile thieves or shining swords whatever bastards, we are the people who work behind the scenes and finish what we are told without complaint!"


    Hm? First time I heard this one. I''ll respond anyway, why not.


    "Yes, sir!"


    "It seems that you have finished slaying the King of the Forest, good job. But you have also killed many others along the way. Never take off that cloak in town, because guards will immediately throw you in prison if caught."


    Yikes, I''m not planning to ever take off my cloak, even in the forest, how else will I be able to act like Tarzan?


    "I am most thankful for the warning, sir."


    [Disciple of a Legend - 7/12


    You have now succeeded in killing the monster that was terrorizing the locals, but you have gathered PK bounty along the way!


    Goal: Erase your bounty by killing monsters and then come back to complete the mission.


    Failure: Loose reputation among NPCs


    Success: Reward depends on the amount of bounty, the next mission of the hidden quest will be revealed.]


    Jumping out the way I came, I subtly made my way out of the training fields.


    At least the mission this time isn''t impossible, I currently have a bounty of 25. So that means I will need to kill...either 2500 monsters with the same level as me or 25 monsters that are double my level.


    ...I think I''ll do the second option, grinding is boring.


    But of course, I''ll sell this robe and mace in the auction house!


    Arriving at a large building near the town square, I hesitantly walked through the doors. Gingerly tiptoeing to a corner, I pulled open my menu and listed my two items up for sale. Hopefully, they would sell for a lot!


    With my business done, I nimbly detached myself from the crowd and weaved through the back alleyways. Making my way back towards the beginner''s forest to rid myself of my PK bounty.

 7 Strangling Snakes and Beating up Rude Adults

    Running through the forest, I headed towards the plains, a spot meant for level 10 players.


    I mentally sighed, trees were my best friends, I''m lonely without them.


    Finding a level 10 snake ahead of me, I took out my bow and nocked my...arrow?


    "Fuck! I actually forgot to buy more arrows!?" I shakily yelped while standing stock still, beating myself up for my own stupidity.


    I used them all up already!


    This was the worst mistake of my life!


    My knife was also ruined because of when I had smashed it into the orc''s skull, what am I gonna use to kill these monsters?!


    I''m so dumb, ah...I don''t want to die though.


    Suddenly the snake shot towards me, lured by my careless yelling. I instinctively sidestepped and caught it by the neck, pinning it down in the grass while immobilizing it.


    ...Heh?


    Whoa, whoa, whoa. What just happened just now?


    I looked down at the snake that was still expertly pinned underneath me, struggling to get free.


    How can a level five easily pin down a level ten mob? I thought while confusingly tilting my head to the side. Not realizing that an average level five player wouldn''t have the high stats and reflexes that I possessed.


    Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I noticed that the snake''s health was slowly being depleted. You could cause strangling damage in this game? Fufufu, that''s a new idea.


    Keeping the snake there for a few more minutes, it''s struggling slowly ceased and became motionless. Immediately after, it disappeared into the familiar particles of light, dropping a scaled belt in exchange.


    Sitting down in the tall grass, I checked the belt''s description.


    [Belt of the Strangler - Unique


    Dropped by the Snakes of the Plain, it can only be achieved if the player strangles the snake to death


    Increases strength by 2


    Increases agility by 1]


    Not a bad belt! Though I won''t be surprised if information on this leaks out once more people find it. As long as you''re strong enough, surprising a snake and then trapping it isn''t a difficult feat.


    Happily equipping my new belt, I looked at my stats.


    Lynx


    Level 5


    Titles: Hidden VIP, Disciple of Marshall Abest, Predator, Lone Hunter


    Class: Ranger


    Achievements: 4


    Health: 257


    Attack: 67


    Defense: 98


    Strength: 5 (+2)


    Agility: 22 (+1)


    Dexterity: 1 (+5)


    Vitality: 2 (+10)


    Intelligence: 0


    Luck: 0


    Charisma: 0 (+12)


    Hmmm, I''ve never seen the stat board of an average player so I can''t compare mine. I wonder if I could be considered strong?


    Cupping my chin with my hand, I thought back to when I fought all the people in the forest.


    "When I think about it...they were all pretty weak," I said out loud, trying to get my facts in line.


    "Most of them died with one critical hit, does that mean they have health lower than 130?" I contemplated, cocking my head to the side.


    "Then I should be considered above average, I guess. I''ve been training with master, and my natural reflexes are abnormal."


    I kept talking to myself while nonchalantly catching another snake that had shown up.


    "But then again, Fang is supposed to be the seventh ranker but I one shot him too. Is it because of the technique level between us? Toku does train me in taekwondo, and all that bullying at school has helped with pain tolerance and prediction. Now that I remember, why does killing Fang give me a weird sense of irony? I feel like I''ve met him before somewhere¡­"


    Sprouting out my thoughts to the snake wriggling under me, I finished it off and found another. Before I knew it, I had cleared my bounty and leveled up.


    Of course, I added all my five stat points all into agility and left my three skill points alone. I didn''t have anything to use then on since I never bothered to learn skills.


    Maybe I''ll ask my master if there were any good skills he could teach me.


    I had also managed to earn myself two gold coins, but sadly the snakes didn''t drop anything apart from the belt I had gotten from the first one.


    Stretching out my tired muscles, I started heading back to the city, eager to clear my mission and get my next quest.


    Right before I was about to exit the forest, I heard a girl''s scream nearby.


    Oh? Looks like my time to be one of those heroes in books has come!


    I soundlessly drew closer to the voice, softly leaping from tree to tree while pulling up my hood and equipping my gloves.


    Peeking through some leaves, I saw a thief girl my age surrounded by a group of men in a small clearing.


    Are they roleplaying or something? Crime isn''t allowed in this world.


    "Hehe, little girl, I would advise you to stop struggling and give up. You want your money back right? But you want to leave even more, am I right?" A burly man said with a sneer dripping in malice. Holding up a small leather sack in front of the girl. So cliche!?


    The thief unwillingly nodded, clutching her knife while lowering her stance. Unsure of what to do.


    Noticing her hesitation, the man who spoke wolfishly grinned. "Well, then there''s no problem! Give me everything you have and I''ll let you go free. But if you don''t¡­"


    He signaled an archer who had his arrow nocked.


    "You die! And we won''t give you a painless death either, I''m convinced from your previous cry. You have your sense reception to the max, that means you''ll feel all the pain!" He snickered while watching the girl''s face pale in fear.


    Are these bastards really threatening a girl with pain? This is a game for god''s sake, some people are just trying to enjoy it. Take your stupid harassing into the real world, will you? And just leave avid gamers alone!


    My fists clenched in annoyance at the delinquents that would bully a girl just to satisfy their needs in a game.


    Fine, if they wanted something stimulating, I''ll give it to them. Judging from their actions, their sense receptors must be maxed as well, basically, everyone playing did.


    "Girl, we''ll give ya ten seconds to do what we told ya. You better hurry now you hear me?"


    The five men slowly closed in on the girl, grins spread across their faces while watching their victim shake in fear.


    I couldn''t take it any longer, as a person who felt bullying first-hand, I couldn''t tolerate it when I saw others who went through the same thing.


    I leaped down from my perched and landed on the nearest bandit, smashing his head with a fist to the temple. Using my momentum, I spun around and kicked the archer in the face, causing him to fly and crash into a tree. Hand on my waist, I took my rookie dagger and¡ª


    Ah, I forgot that I didn''t have any weapons on me.


    "You monster, who the hell do you think you are?!" The leader screamed while drawing his flimsy sword.


    "Me? Just a passing NPC who happened to see you bullying someone, that''s all." I responded with an easygoing shrug.


    "You liar! It''s obvious you''re not an NPC, I can see your player tag!" He yelled hysterically while charging towards me.


    No, it''s pretty obvious I was being sarcastic you know.


    I snatched his wrist and hooked my leg under his feet, successfully tripping him. Pinning him down to the ground, I sat on his back and gently smiled at the other two left.


    "You know, I absolutely despise people who attack weaker players in a game. So I tend to use their medicine against them. You two wanna have a nice go at it?" I asked while slamming their leader''s face into the ground with kind eyes. "I''m a very forgiving person. If you guys give back the girl''s items, and of course compensate her for her troubles. I''ll gladly let you people off scot free! Good deal, ain''t it?"


    The two men stiffly nodded their head, uneasily looking towards their beat-up comrades.


    "W-we''ll give you da stuff bro. Just let us go, ya?" The leader said while spitting out dirt from his mouth.


    "Then give me the items first, then I''ll let you go."


    They hurriedly took out all their items and handed it to the girl thief, who was still standing in the same position looking at me in shock.


    "Good boys, now off you go, don''t forget to pick up your unconscious teammates alright?" I chuckled while standing up, dusting off my cloak.


    The men all gingerly nodded once again, scrambling to carry their buddies into the forest.


    Watching them leave I turned towards the stunned girl.


    "Hey, what are you spacing out for, take the stuff. Oh, leave me some arrows though, I doubt you need those." I commanded while sorting through the small pile in front of her.


    Picking up the quiver of arrows the archer had on him, I turned to leave.


    "Wait. Who are you?" The girl suddenly said, staring at my back in curiosity. "And more importantly, why did you help."


    I looked over my shoulder at the girl. After taking a good glance at her I noticed that she was, what you could describe as, very good looking.


    Her long black hair was tied up in a high ponytail, and her striking black eyes seemed to hold an intense feeling within.


    "What do you mean by that question? I''ve already explained it while talking to those fellows that left."


    I looked away and headed back into the forest. But before I had a chance to leave the clearing, I felt a hand hold my shoulder.


    "Stop, at least let me know your username or else I would feel indebted to you." She said while firmly holding me in place.


    "Do I really need to, even though you haven''t thanked me yet?" I retorted while taking her hand off my shoulder. "I''ll take my leave now."


    Gritting her teeth in frustration, she blocked my path. "Fine! Thank you very much for helping me from those filthy bastards. Now please tell me your name."


    I stood still, tilting my head to the side while thinking of what to do in this peculiar situation. After all, it''s been a long time since I''ve talked to a girl my age.


    "I don''t feel the need in telling you¡­"


    "If you don''t tell me I''ll simply find you again! It''s easy to find a cloaked figure wearing a designed black glove on their left hand."


    "No...I don''t really...you know I can take this off right?"


    "Grrrr...just tell me! What harm would it do?!"


    For one thing, that would expose me I guess. Not that I would tell her that.


    "I''m shy."


    Hearing this unexpected response the girl tripped and fell to the ground. But she picked herself up quickly.


    "Okay fine, I''ll just remember you as my mysterious benefactor. I can''t give you anything, but I''ll owe you a favor, how about that?" She wearily said while giving up finding out my name.


    "But why would I need a useless favor from you¡­"


    "Wh-what?! I''m Tomoe! Tenth ranker on leaderboards, daughter of the prime minister of Japan. What do you mean a favor is useless?!" She shouted out in her fury, accidentally exposing her real identity to me.


    "..."


    "..."


    I simply stared at her in bewilderment. What? Why would I care about any of those facts? And why would I need a favor from the daughter of Mr. Matayoshi? I already know him through my dad.


    But of course, being the kind girl I was, I swallowed my complaints and stayed silent.


    "Ah...I messed up. You better not tell anyone about this you hear?!" Tomoe cried out in a flustered tone, embarrassment clear on her face. "If you do I''ll find you and make you pay!"


    "Okay, sure, it''s not like I really care in the first place?" I casually dismissed while walking back into the forest.


    Only to be stopped, again.


    "But since you heard my real identity, show me your face!" She yelled while pointing her finger at me.


    This girl was a feisty one. Could she not just leave me alone? Let''s just do what she says and get out of here.


    Sighing to myself in exasperation, I grudgingly pulled down my hood, letting my long mahogany hair flow out. I gazed at her with a tired expression.


    "Happy?" I asked.


    She stood there speechless, staring at me in shock.


    "Hey, staring is rude."


    "You, you were a girl?" She sputtered while standing frozen like a statue.


    "Yes, I''m a girl, congrats for noticing."


    Flipping up my hood, I left the clearing while I still had the chance.


    Leaping up into a tree, I sped towards the city at a fast pace, taking off my glove in the meanwhile.


    Hah...how troublesome. That took more time than I expected, once I get back to the city I would need to buy myself some new weapons too.

 8 Eye of the Storm

    Didn''t Tomoe say that she was the tenth ranker? How did she get surrounded so easily be those men then...am I missing something?


    I was lost in my thoughts as I scaled the wall on the city, avoiding the patrols and heading over to the training grounds via my normal route.


    By now I had memorized the city from above, I basically knew every back alley and hiding spot, thanks to traversing on rooftops so much.


    While running through an alley, I heard a conversation by chance that caught my attention.


    "Can you believe it? Lynx as already killed 30 people and it''s not even a week into the game yet!"


    "That''s not even a big deal, did you hear about the sudden large guild called Gemstone that popped out of nowhere? I heard it''s lead by a really handsome archer!"


    "Don''t you also know about that other guild, started by a mysterious thief? The member count is growing as fast as Gemstone."


    Handsome archer and mysterious thief? Sounds like my troublemaking brothers are up to something again, how interesting.


    "No way, what about that super guild called East Wind, started by the tenth ranker. And another guild called Quicksilver, started by the ninth. Or that obnoxious one started by that upstart spoiled brat Fang."


    Amazing, lots of interesting guilds are starting up already. I don''t really think I''ll join on though, sounds like too much trouble. Sorry that you won''t be getting another ''guild leader'' web novel as you expected~. Hehe, I''m soloing this game.


    Finding my master once again busy talking to rangers, I stood off to the side and looked for the two guards who I had remembered from the previous time. Spotting them standing guard in the same place as before, I walked up to them and grinned.


    "Hello! Thank you very much for helping me back then, Charles, Jason," I exclaimed while scratching my cheek. "I don''t like crowds a lot, too much hassle."


    I two of them stared at each other then looked towards me with smiles.


    "Pffft, no need to thank us, ma''am! We truly didn''t do much." Jason said while chuckling.


    "Yeah! All us soldiers here really respect ya for bein'' able to put up with Marshall''s grueling trainin''. Ya know?" Charles said with his accent, patting his partner on the back with a hearty laugh.


    Seeing the two NPC guards act so friendly, I was once again at awe at how complicated these computer-generated AIs were. I could barely tell them apart from normal players!


    "Well, I would feel bad if I didn''t do anything," I responded while shyly scratching my head. "Here, I''ll give you some gold I had on me, I have too much for just one person anyway."


    Taking out two gold coins, I gave one to each of them. Seeing their shocked expressions, I laughed out loud.


    "M-ma''am isn''t this too much for just movin'' our heads?!" Charles said while holding the gold piece in shaking hands like it was an important family heirloom.


    I cocked my head to the side, why was he freaking out about just once gold coin? I have over a hundred more in my inventory I got when doing random stuff.


    "T-t-this is more than what we earn from a year''s salary! Even just one silver coin could last someone a week if spent on the bare necessities. This is too much!" Jason cried out while trying to hand the coins back to me.


    "No no, it''s fine!" I denied while refusing the gold. "I have plenty left from hunting, this is just pocket change for me."


    Hearing this, the two guards bowed their heads deep in gratitude. Thanking me over and over again.


    "Wait, what are you two doing?! You''ll embarrass me, don''t do that!" I sputtered, quickly gesturing for them to stop.


    "We are forever in your debt, Madam Lynx!"


    "Yes, we are, ya know. Jason''s mother is actually in debt. So this will easily cover it up with more ta spare! We can never thank you enough."


    [You have gained max reputation with NPCs guards Jason and Charles. You are now able to summon them up to once a day. If their favorability with you drops below seventy then the ability will be revoked.]


    I''m too good at this game, let''s go.


    Happy with the unexpected development I waved farewell to my two new NPC buddies and walked towards my mentor.


    "Sir! I have successfully cleared my PK points!" I saluted while keeping my expression as stern as possible.


    "Hmm, good job. You really are a great find after all."


    Why do you talk about me like some kind of treasure?! I mean, it''s nice and all but why?!


    "Well then, something came up with some other rangers and I need you to take care of it okay?" He grinned while pushing all his work onto me.


    You lazy bastard¡­


    [Disciple of a Legend- 8/12


    Good job! Your PK points are now cleared, butanother group of rangers needs your help


    Goal: Find the player ''Asterios'' and tell him you will be helping him with his mission


    Failure: Reputation among all NPCs will drop, ''Asterios'' can choose to send you to prison for a day


    Success: Next mission in the quest chain, Weapon depending on your contribution towards the mission


    Special: Unique Skill


    Let''s hope that this Asterios guy is patient, kind, and forgiving. Oh, and that his party is good at doing their job.


    "Of course, sir! I will get ready right away."


    "Good! Here," He said while placing his hand on my forehead. "This skill has helped me throughout many adventures, I will teach it to you."


    With information flowing through my mind, I sucked in a cold breath. This skill would be very useful in many ways¡­


    Thanking my mentor, I walked out of the training grounds.


    Hyping myself up, I left for the market, once again leaping like a cat over rooftops. Halfway to my destination, a notification suddenly popped up in front of me.


    [''Mace of the Orc King'' has been sold for 2 gold]


    [''Orc Mage''s Robe'' has been sold for 3 gold]


    Ohhhhh? Not bad, but my earnings were nothing compared to what I got from achievements and hidden quests! Let''s go buy some gear!


    Hopping down into a secluded alleyway, I walked out into the busy market. Not suspicious at all yes.


    I took in a deep breath of air, a bustling street was always fun to traverse through! Excited for new equipment, I held my expectations high and started my shopping spree.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Nothing.


    That was what I found.


    Absolutely nothing useful for a level six ranger. WHY?!?! I was so excited too!?


    A light bulb suddenly went off above my head.


    Ah, I completely forgot that the average players were still at level three...dammit! Clinging onto my last hope, I dashed into the auction house and pulled up the sales. My eyes skimmed over the seemingly never-ending list praying for a suitable piece of equipment. About to give up, my eyes caught onto one sale.


    I found one. Unique level 6 dagger called Eye of the Storm, selling for ten gold coins.


    Sold, my friend!


    I put down my bid at ten gold without a shred of hesitation, that knife was calling my name! I could hear it!


    "No way! Some maniac is actually wasting ten gold coins on a level 6 knife? If I had that much gold, I could buy myself a plot of land!"


    "Shhhh, don''t speak so loud Tahoe, you don''t want to attract the attention of such a wealthy person."


    Beside me, I heard a swordsman and a female ranger whispering to each other after seeing my high bid.


    Hey, you know I''m standing right next to you¡­


    I noted down their names, Tahoe and Heavenly, maybe I''ll kill them later if there''s a chance?


    Pfffft, I''m just joking, I''m not that mean. Plus, it sounds tiring.


    I easily won the bid for the knife and opened up my inventory.


    [Eye of the Wind - Unique


    Increases strength by 2


    Increases agility by 2


    Attack 20


    Increases charisma by 1


    Satisfied with my new purchase, I equipped the pitch black knife underneath my cloak. Skimming over the auction once again, I stocked up on arrows and bought a few cheap throwing knives. I also bought another item that caught my attention, but that would have to wait. Thinking back to what the swordsman had said earlier, I headed towards the town center, curious about buying a plot of land with the 98 pieces of gold I still had left.


    Leisurely taking my time walking down the busy roads instead of running up top, I enjoyed my surroundings. I''ve always been a crowd person after all. Memorizing spots that caught my interest or places and players that piqued my curiosity, I stored the information I had collected in the back of my head and arrived at my destination.


    The Town Hall.

 9 Rejoice! I am now even more OP!

    The Town Hall, one of the most important places for Sapphire players to go to. From finding hidden quests to buying plots of land, practically everything that had to do with the ''town'' in general was done here.


    Of course, currently, the only reason people came here was to establish guilds or randomly talk to NPCs like idiots while praying for a hidden quest to unlock.


    But of course, that''s not my reason.


    Of course.


    Of course, I just feel like saying of course.


    Alrighty, let''s get back on track.


    The reason I came here was to buy a small plot of land, perhaps a nice place where I could go to when I actually made friends. Or if I''m not successful at making friends, a lonely place where I could crouch in the corner crying while lamenting my useless social life every day!


    While cursing my older brother for his unnecessarily blessed charismatic personality.


    Screw you Kai, blow up and die.


    Ah, but Toku will always be with me~


    Nevermind, I think he got a friend recently and is staying out with them a lot.


    ¡­


    I''m forever alone.


    Trudging into the lively town hall while wallowing in my own spiral of thoughts, I crawled up to an open counter.


    "A-ah, ''scuse me miss, I was wondering if I could buy some land?"


    "Of course!"


    See, everyone loves saying of course, not just me!


    "Would you like a private talk or public one?"


    "Private talk, please."


    From talking with Abest, I learned to be very polite with NPCs, you never know what could happen.


    Separating us from the busy hall with a click of a button, screens rolled down around me and all sound was cut off. Satisfied, she expertly took out a rolled up map, spreading it out on the empty countertop.


    "These are the available plots for sale! Please take your time to pick one, the prices are listed here."


    Scanning over the detailed map, my eyes drifted to a small piece that was oddly distanced from the city. All the others were bunched up within the walls, while this one was a few miles away, deep in the mountains.


    "Miss, what is this land here?" I asked while pointing to the land.


    "Ah, an old fortress used to be there. But unfortunately all there is left is a pitiful wooden shack. Thus, the price has dropped to only ten gold coins, do you want to buy it?"


    Oh my, I smell a quest and a cheap plot for only ten gold coins! All the other ones located in the city are freakishly expensive, the most expensive one nearing a whopping ten thousand coins!


    "Yes! I''ll take the deal! Uh, miss."


    "Of course! No problem, sign this and then do this to the plot and you''re good to go!"


    See, she just said of course again, she loves it more than me. What? I''m pointing out random facts? Don''t sweat the details, gets you nowhere in life.


    I handed her the ten gold coins and got a piece of paper in exchange. I just noticed that I spent quite a lot today huh. I''m down to 88 already!


    After successfully purchasing the land, I said goodbye to the counter-girl Hanah and left the building whistling.


    "Hmmm, what did she say I had to do again? Go to the place and wave the paper around or something?" I muttered to myself while weaving through the crowd of people.


    Taking a sharp turn into an alleyway, I made sure no one was watching and then jumped up onto the roof. Okay, let''s go to my nice shack and try it out then!


    I quickly left the city and once again became Tarzan, nimbly hopping from branch to branch and briskly made my way deep into the mountains.


    Along the way, I managed to kill a few level five monsters and earn myself a few drops. Efficiently raising my coin count back up to 90 before finally arriving at my residence. It was a decently large piece of land, around the size of half of a football field.


    Half was covered with trees and there was even a gentle stream running through the middle. I spotted the shack in a small clearing placed right in the middle of the property next to the stream.


    This is a shack? Isn''t this more like a mini tent?


    Opening the wooden door with a loud creak, I stepped into my home. It was small enough that if I stretched out my arms while standing in the middle, my fingers would skim the walls. The ceiling was barely high enough for me to stay standing, and I didn''t even have enough space to lie down. The only good news was that it was airtight and sturdy.


    No problem! I''ve studied a bit of woodworking before, I''ll get this place expanded to fit my needs in a jiffy.


    First of all, I painstakingly took down the back wall, turning it into a large circular room with wood I had gathered from the forest.


    From there I cut out some nice windows with my newly bought knife and added curtains made from the pelts of monsters I had hunted. I also used the pelts as carpeting on the floor.


    Creating a modern balcony, I extended it into a bridge that went over the stream and led into the woods. I then spiced things up with some decorations and flowers I found surrounding the house. I fashioned my roof into an upside-down cone, in case it rained.


    I even went as far as buying an output for electricity for a price of 20 gold. It''s all for the sake of design and efficiency. No, not because I want to become a NEET okay? I swear, it''s all for the sake of efficiency.


    ...Maybe I''ll add a secret switch that brings up a screen and panel like those spy movies...


    I''m not a chuuni either, shut up. Efficiency, all for efficiency, promise.


    On the inside of my cozy hut, I added a small fireplace, table, and chairs made of wood and pelts.


    In case I had people come over.


    If I ever had any of course.


    Because I won''t be alone forever okay?


    I hope.


    For fifty gold coins, I also created a mini teleport pad in the center of the room, which allowed me to teleport back from town or with special scrolls.


    With my hands on my hips, I looked around my new home, and I saw that it was good.


    Ahem.


    Well, that took more time then I expected.


    Locking the door of the house, I smiled happily.


    I''ve made myself a pretty cozy home! All in all, I think I did pretty good today!


    [Congratulations! You are the first player to buy a property and create a player home. You have earned these items.


    -50 gold


    -1 Achievement


    -Title: ''Artisan''


    -''Hammer of Creation''


    -Luck +10]


    Oh! What a nice finishing touch to my glorious masterpiece, and it even paid back the coins I spend on the teleportation pad! How nice.


    Opening my inventory I looked at my new title ''Artisan''.


    [Artisan


    -All NPCs will give you a 5% discount on purchases


    -Sales will give you 8% more than usual towards NPCs


    -All lifestyle NPCs will respect you


    -You can use the ''Hammer of Creation'']


    Rejoice! For your friendly neighborhood Lynx has now just become more overpowered than ever before!


    With high expectations, I checked the stats of the hammer I had been generously given.


    [Hammer of Creation


    -Only someone with the ''Artisan'' title may use this


    -Can repair armor and weapons if materials are used


    -Boosts success rates of crafting]


    Oh lookie at that, I just got myself a portable repair kit. How handy. Although I doubt I will be crafting a lot, it still contributes to helping me break the game! Onward my friends, towards becoming the strongest player ever in Sapphire!


    Oh look, it''s dinner time.


    And with that thought, I logged out of the game.


    After all, I''m still human, I''m hungry.


    Just a thought, I can use the Two-faced mask now right?!


    *Grumowbowle*


    A loud sound came from my abdomen.


    ...Crap, so hungry...I''ll leave the mask for tomorrow then.

 10 Ah, Yikes, Isve Been Exposed~

    Exiting my capsule, I noticed that it was already two in the morning. Realizing that I wouldn''t have time to eat dinner, I whipped up a quick snack for myself and walked to my room.


    Thanks to a special trait that I had inherited from my mother, I only needed to sleep four hours a day, unlike others who needed seven to ten hours. My family members were most likely already snoring, so I changed my clothes and dove into bed, falling asleep once my head hit the pillow.


    ~~~~~


    "Yuri, join the track team as a hurdler, and you can''t refuse," Akane commanded, cornering me on the rooftop during lunch at school.


    H-how did this happen?! It was a perfectly normal school day, I got bullied, I ignored them, Ryuu annoyed me, I ignored him, so why am I getting cornered on the roof?! All I wanted was to eat my lunch peacefully for the first time in forever, so I took the leisure to pick the lock that leads to the school roof to have some time to myself.


    But I drop my guard for one minute and somehow this crazy girl manages to find and sneak up on me.


    I can''t comprehend this situation.


    "Errrr, Miss Akane, I wonder what you are implying?" I asked with a confused face, tilting my head to the side. "Forgive me for trespassing onto the roof, but I found the view very pleasing to the eye."


    "I''m surprised how easy it is for you to lie."


    "Hm? But nothing I just said was a lie."


    That was true, I really did find the view from the roof much more pleasing than eating in class.


    "Arggggh," she groaned while covering her eyes and facing the sky, lacking her usual cheerful personality. "This is so troublesome¡­"


    "I see that we both agree on that point, then I will take my leave."


    "NOPE! Nada, I finally found a good chance and you just wanna walk out on me? No way."


    "Miss Akane, is something of the matter? You look quite frustrated."


    "And who''s fault do you think that is?!?!"


    "Unfortunately, I do not have a clue."


    "You...is this just an act, or are you seriously this dense?!"


    "I''m afraid it is neither of those options."


    Our banter kept going back and forth, causing Akane to become more annoyed at the second while I had to hold back my laughter and keep my face expressionless.


    Although I never expected this side of one of the most popular girls in the school. How very interesting hm?


    "Whatever, we''re just getting nowhere!" She exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air as if surrendering.


    "Let me just get to the point, you," Akane demanded while pointing her finger at me. "You will join the track team, you do not need to join in on practices or team meets. But you will participate in the district, regional, and then national competition for hurdlers."


    "Oh my, I am terribly sorry, I think I''ve lost track of the conversation."


    "No more playing dumb if you don''t join I will expose your true identity, as Lynx."


    I froze at her statement, my trademark expressionless face morphing into one of shock and surprise.


    How, when, where did she find out?! So early into the game, it should be impossible for anyone to know Lynx was actually me. I rapidly tried to figure out how Akane had found my username when she suddenly chuckled.


    "Pffft, who knew that you could actually make such an expression!" She laughed out loud while holding her stomach. "Hahaha! That''s hilarious!"


    I guess there''s nothing to hide anymore¡­


    My face turned into one of obvious exasperation.


    "You, you''re such a kid, who knew that one of the most popular girls would actually have such a weird side to her?"


    "Heh, everyone at school does, just like you. I guess you just don''t pay enough attention to your surroundings to realize that fact."


    This girl...although I did already finish my lunch, I needed her to spill the beans on how she tied me and Lynx together. But before I could say anything, she seemed to read my thoughts and interrupted me with a smirk.


    "You were simply too careless you know?"


    Careless¡­?


    "Mhm, remember that one time your tattoo showed from the left sleeve while leaping over the back wall? Coincidentally, I was putting away files for my father when I saw it. Oh, that was a really nice jump by the way."


    N-no way¡­


    "Yup, you probably already know now. When I heard that Lynx had a hummingbird tattoo on her left hand, it was easy enough to put the two together! Especially after seeing your athletic ability."


    "I got it, so why the track team," I responded, discarding the fake polite tone I used at school and switching to my normal one.


    "Finally taking off that fake facade of yours huh. The reason why you will join the track team is that it will help promote the school and also raise our credits. The higher our reputation, the easier it will be for me to take control, since I''m the track team president."


    "I see, then I will agree to your terms, as long as you don''t reveal the fact that I am Lynx to anybody." I reluctantly said with a wry grin on my face.


    Nothing I could do about it, at least I knew Akane''s username thanks to the aimless chatter of my classmates.


    Hearing my expected response, she giggled and gave her word.


    "As long as you provide good results at competitions, you have my word I won''t tell a soul about your little secret~"


    "Mkay, then I''ll take my leave, Miss Aphrodite."


    Without listening to her response, I left the roof and headed to my next period.


    Akane may hold something against me.


    But I also held a much larger secret against her. Also, since I''m the chuuni-*cough cough*, the careful person I am, I recorded our entire conversation.


    I silently laughed to myself while walking down the stairs.


    She would pay for baring her fangs against me, better not underestimate the only female of the Mizuki family!

 11 East Wind

    Getting through the rest of the school day without a major problem, I once again took my shortcut and got home quickly.


    Making a small snack for myself and leaving three sandwiches out for my family, I once again logged back into the game, materializing where I left off in my new house.


    There was still an hour before I had to meet up with Asterios, so I got comfy on my couch and opened up the forums.


    [Dragon''s Might is just way too obnoxious! Independent players should be given more respect.]


    -The seventh-ranked Fang is going way too far, he''s crossing the line. My entire party was killed even though we were just peacefully grinding levels. Dragon''s Might is super tyrannical, go die!


    --I agree, all they do is boss weaker players around, this is simply bullying!


    ---The comment above, if you don''t want to be pushed around, then just get stronger.


    -The only reason Dragon''s Might is a large guild is because of how spoiled their guild leader is, what a shitty community.


    Wow, apparently lots of players are hating on that guy''s guild huh. I understand why though, thinking back to when I killed him, he really did have a crappy attitude and his party didn''t hesitate to leave him instantly.


    His sword was pretty nice looking as well, probably bought from someone with real currency¡­


    Whatever, although I hate how they bully people, everyone has a dark side to them so there''s not much I can do!


    Now I''ll just proceed to ignore this and scroll......down.....oh my.


    Every forum post was either about the bossy guild.....or about me.


    You know what, I''ll just close the forums and check....never. Yup yup.


    Wiping the forums out of my memory I closed the tab with dead eyes.


    Reorganizing my inventory, I prepared myself and looked over my stat board.


    [Lynx


    Level 6


    Titles: Hidden VIP, Disciple of a Marshall, Predator, Lone Hunter, Artisan


    Class: Ranger


    Achievements: 5


    Health: 257


    Attack: 67


    Defense: 98


    Strength: 5 (+2)


    Agility: 27 (+1)


    Dexterity: 1 (+5)


    Vitality: 2 (+10)


    Intelligence: 0


    Luck: 0


    Charisma: (+12)]


    Not bad! I''ve improved already.


    A flash of lightning suddenly hit my mind, and I excitedly dug through my inventory and found the Two-faced mask.


    I can finally equip it! Haha!


    [Two-faced mask - Growth Level 1


    Level one: Have the ability to change your username to something else, all friend requests, messages, or trades will be automatically sent to a separate tab.


    Includes the ability to manually change your shown level and skills


    The player can manually switch the mask''s visibility mode


    200 PK points to level up


    Bound to Lynx]


    Yes~! Too bad you need 200 PK points to level up, but it shouldn''t be that hard. I''ll do my best and find out what awesome stuff level two gives me!


    I quickly equipped the mask and set the visibility to off. Although it looks sick if people saw me wearing this mask no doubt they would stare.


    [Enter your alternate username:]


    Ehhhhh...¡­..this is hard.


    I racked by tiny brain for cool names that I could pick, there was no certainty that I could change it later on, so I should choose one where I wouldn''t regret it.


    "Let''s go with Yuka! Cause it sounds cute but strong at the same time. It''s also close to my real name."


    [Username noted, you may access all abilities in an alternate player tab.]


    Jackpot, this is the perfect tool to make sure to one finds out I''m Lynx, my luck is just too good. Almost makes me wonder if I''m some book protagonist or something...


    Yosh, time to teleport back to town and meet up with this Asterios guy, let''s head out!


    Pumping myself up and praying that my social skills wouldn''t fail me, I stepped onto the teleport pad and disappeared into a blur.


    With my hood down and glove in my inventory, I looked like an average ranger you could find anywhere walking on the streets.


    But for some reason, NPCs and players were still staring at me...annoying. I don''t like attracting attention, that''s for my brothers to do.


    Arriving at the meeting spot I spotted five players standing there chatting and laughing together.


    What a happy bunch.


    I inspected their avatars, Asterios was a large, well-built berserker with an axe. There was a blonde ranger called Koi who was feverishly arguing with a female archer called Lyssia. Watching them fight, was a shy looking female priest standing with an exasperated-looking mage woman who was trying to get them to stop.


    Overall, quite a typical adventuring party, they seem to be quite close so I assume it''s not temporary. And since they already have a ranger, it would be harder for me to fit in well¡­


    Whatever, nothing I can do about it after all! I''m surprised they don''t have a swordsman or thief though, the party must depend on their berserker and ranger for close combat fighting.


    Here goes nothing.


    I hyped myself up and slapped on an easy-going smile, walking straight towards them. Asterios quickly noticed me and grinned, waving while giving a greeting.


    "Hey! You must be the ranger Marshall Abest told us to work with right?"


    Hm? I was going to work with them? Not help them? Huh, okay then.


    "Yup! I''m Yuka, level 4 ranger, nice to meetcha Asterios!" I cheerfully replied back, giving him the best smile I could muster.


    "The honor is all mine, the party name is East Wind."


    "Fufufu! Our luck is quite good, to have such a beautiful expert join our party for a special guest. The goddess of luck must be looking upon us." Chuckled the ranger called Kai, who was exaggeratingly brushing fingers through his wavy hair. "And she must also be looking upon you! To fatefully meet me, Koi, the most handsome man in this game. You are truly blessed!"


    Narcissist confirmed! Self-warning, stay away from Koi.


    "Mhm, nice to meet you as well, Koi." I responded with a wry smile, instinctively taking half a step back.


    Seeing their party member''s self-praise, the females in the group all simultaneously rolled their eyes.


    Wow, that coordination is flawless, although feel bad for them if they have already managed to train it to this level. Koi must be worse than I thought.


    Sensing my awkwardness, the chic archer Lyssia walked up to me and gave me a warm handshake.


    "Ugh, just ignore that annoying prick. My name''s Lyssia, I hope we get along."


    "Of course. I pray that we both benefit off this quest."


    Next, the tomboy mage came up and bowed with a wry smile.


    "I''m Matania, Tan or Tania for short, and this is our priest Violet. It will be fun working with you Yuka."


    "Y-yes, I-I will be in your care." Violet stuttered while peeking out behind Tania.


    "Hehehe, you don''t have to be shy around me. Just think of me as a friend yeah?" I chucked while grinning. "I don''t like formalities much."


    Hearing this, almost everyone relaxed and put on natural smiles. Except for Koi, he was always smiling and I''m not sure if that''s his normal one.


    After we all finished exchanging greetings, they added me into their party and gave a rundown of the quest details. I was actually quite surprised they had managed to grasp such a difficult quest for just a party of level fours. Their mission was to kill the King of the Forest that I had once done. No wonder my master told me to go with them, it''s easier for me since I have experience against that orc¡­


    "Oh! I actually read a forum post just recently and I know where the coordinates for the King of the Forest is."


    Better to make it seem less suspicious right? And I mean, I wasn''t lying either.


    Asterios perked up at my exclamation.


    "That''s perfect, I was just having trouble finding the location. Send it to me through the party chat please."


    "Done!"


    With the problem dealt with, we got our items in order and set out with noisy chatter and bantering. I found out that I got along very well with Tania and Violet, although they had very contrasting natures, I respected the way they still had fun together. I doubt I could get along with Koi or Lyssia though, Koi...well because he''s Koi. But Lyssia because I could clearly see that the smile she used for me was faked.


    I''m an expert at faking okay? Don''t try to mess with me.


    But it doesn''t matter, I''ll deal with her if necessary.


    Asterios was a good party leader, not being terribly close yet still fitting in well. He led as a good role model to the others.


    In my opinion, it was just an average party with higher than usual levels.


    We traveled at a pretty steady speed, although only one-fifth of how fast I usually went at...we also paid the gate fee too.


    As I thought, the gate fee sucks.


    Yeah, I hope I never have to do that again¡­


    Welp, at least things are going smoother than I thought!


    I''m starting to look forward to how well East Wind fights.

 12 My First Mob Slaughter

    He''s an expert. No doubt.


    That''s the first thing I thought when I saw Asterios fight against a level four monster.


    The rest of the party didn''t even feel the need to help him! His skill with the ax is for real, not like some other role players who I saw visibly sauntering around the streets parading their looks.


    In fact, I won''t be surprised if he knew how to use an ax very well in real life.


    But of course, I did find small flaws where I could most likely slip through, although not easy. Who do you think I am!


    With Asterios clearing out all the minor mobs we encountered on the way, we didn''t find trouble, and other parties left us alone with relatively easy persuasion.


    This is great! It''s like a nice walk through the forest, very refreshing for the soul.


    Ah, Lyssia keeps ''secretly'' glaring at me. Sorry miss, I have eyes in the back of my head~!


    No, I''m just really sensitive to glares since I''m always constantly getting stared at in town and at school.


    Well, for now, it''s not like she''s bothering me much so I don''t mind her.


    Let''s just keep observing the big guy''s ax work. I''ll make sure to memorize his fighting patterns and actions today, never know when it might come in handy!


    Soon we arrived at the clearing where I had fought the orc before. I didn''t notice it last time because the other party must have destroyed it, but there was a massive tent placed smack dab in the middle. It''s pretty obvious who was in it.


    Securing the clearing and scouting the nearby areas, Asterios turned towards us.


    "Alright. We''ll use battle Plan B for this boss since Yuka doesn''t know it well she can come in if something unexpected happens okay?"


    Everyone nodded their head, including me.


    But I wasn''t okay with it! How will I get a better reward if I don''t contribute to the effort! I want something good, not a ''participation'' award okay?! The mini-me inside is yelling for action!


    My hands fidgeted in boredom while watching the party slowly sneak around the tent.


    On the way here Asterios had leveled up to level five, everyone else was level three. I wouldn''t be surprised if someone told me he was on the leaderboards.


    After all, I''m first on the board but still only level six.


    Perching myself in a suitable tree, I sat down and observed their ''Plan B''. I instantly grasped the basic concept behind it, it wasn''t that complex. It was basically something close to my kiting technique, except with five people instead of one. Koi would get the aggro and then the rest would bombard the orc with skills, then Asterios would take the aggro while Koi got to another position and everyone waited for their skill cooldown. Violet was a bit farther away, healing Koi or Asterios when their health was low.


    Repeat.


    It wasn''t a flawless plan, but it was better than the previous party where the tank would simply hold the aggro the entire time by himself.


    But I saw a major flaw. I assume they only used this on mini-bosses who were easier to deal with, but the King of the Forest actually had intelligence. Once his health got down to 10%, he would aim for the healers of the party regardless of who does more damage. By then, their plan would fall apart with no one to heal them.


    Not that they knew that.


    And not that I''m telling them~! That would be boring!


    So instead I just stayed quiet watched the health of the orc slowly chip away. If they were in a pinch then I would just help Violet out a bit. I do like her after all.


    Ah, a few mobs were attracted to their fighting. They''re only level four, I guess I''ll take care of em so that they don''t get in the way.


    Taking out my bow, I nocked an arrow, letting it fly at the nearest boar that was nearing the clearing, instantly cutting down an eighth of its health. Shooting out seven more arrows in the same spot, I managed to kill it before it got too close. Easy kill, yeah let''s go!


    Hehe, East Wind didn''t even notice since their focus was completely directed at the boss.


    How naive, but I suppose this will be better for me. I can get contribution points by luring mobs near and then killing them! Technically I would be protecting the party right?


    Jackpot.


    Hehehe. I''m so smart. Praise me.


    With a sly grin on my face, I took out the object I had bought from the auction earlier.


    [Orb of Luring


    Lures all mobs in a kilometer area towards your direction for five minutes


    Does not work on mini-bosses or field bosses


    Cooldown time of five hours


    Uses left: 25/25]


    This is gonna be so great.


    Picking a suitable place a little distance away from the party, I activated the orb and readied my bow. I suppose it would take around 8-10 shots to kill each mob. Good thing I stocked up on a lot of arrows, I have around a thousand left.


    Grinning from ear to ear in excitement, I started my one-sided slaughter.


    "Haaaaaaa¡­.that was fun." I sighed deeply to myself while leaning against a tree watching East Wind still fighting the boss. I happily mused over what had just happened.


    More mobs than I had expected had shown up, in fact, there was so many that Asterios noticed what I was doing.


    Although he was to busy evading the orc''s blows to find out how I was doing it. Good job, King of the Forest!


    While I was almost completely done clearing out fifty level four mobs, suddenly two level five orc minions had shown up. I suppose that they were supposed to be guarding the boss, but had ventured away instead.


    This game is really realistic huh.


    Since I had seen that my rookie arrows did basically no damage, I was forced to leap down from my perch and use my new knife to attack them.


    They were really fun to kill! Their tactics and skills were very complicated, as expected of the boss''s minions.


    Ah, but of course I defeated them both with a few stabs with my knife. That''s just who I am.


    I''m level six and my knife is unique after all. I''m not surprised it was so easy. I''m just too overpowered and overgeared.


    But good news! Slaughtering so many mobs had given me a lot of loot, and my experience bar also went up a tenth.


    Checking to make sure that the boss still had 50% of his health, I relaxed and opened up my inventory to check out the new drops I had earned.


    Hmmm, there were lots of repeats, since I basically only killed the boars and two minions. Although there were a few bears in the crowd here and there.


    Overall, I got 53 leather hides, two bear claws, a level five bow and a ring.


    Nice gather! Looking at the ring and bow''s attributes, I was satisfied with the stats.


    [Orc Minion''s Bow - Unique


    Increase agility by 2


    Attack +15]


    Wait, how come I don''t remember the minions using bows¡­..? Did my luck overrule the realism of the game?!


    ...You know what, I''ll just ignore the small details. I will gladly welcome an OP bow any day.


    [Ring of Slaughter


    Attack +30


    Increase agility by 2


    Increase vitality by 3


    Increase charisma by 3]


    Yup, I can say it with confidence now.


    I think I broke the game.


    WHAT THE HECK ARE THESE STATS?!?!?!


    For a normal level six to have these are already too scary, but for me? With the extra stat and skill points that I already get from my titles, this is just too much.


    Forget the items, I''m already strong enough to easily destroy mobs double my level. If this goes on how am I going to find enjoyment and challenge¡­


    No, Yuri don''t be depressed, it''s a large world! There are plenty of people just like me, I have to believe it. My father wouldn''t be stupid enough to throw the balance of the game away...I think...I hope?


    I look forward to meeting more strong people~


    Now that I think about it if Asterios and I had a fair face-off, wouldn''t he have the ability to overwhelm me with his ax mastery?


    ¡­


    I need to train more with Toku and Kai. I''ll ask them once they''re free.


    Oh, I completely forgot about the orc boss that East Wind is still fighting.


    Directing my focus away from my monstrous status board, I peeked over at how the party was doing.


    Wow, they unexpectedly already brought the boss down to 12%, my expectations weren''t high in the beginning, but is a normal party supposed to be this powerful? The tactic they are using isn''t even that efficient either, that''s crazy!


    Errrrrr, why do I keep getting tangled up with experts? I''m scared that my view on average players is going to be distorted once I actually meet some¡­


    Oh, there goes the boss''s berserk mode, he''s already started shifting his attention to Violet.


    Heh, I guess it''s my time to shine. Lynx here, coming to the rescue!

 13 The Orcs Second Death

    "C-crap! Vio watch out!"


    "Violet-chan!"


    Tania and Lyssia both cried out to Violet in warning when seeing the orc turn towards her.


    Asterios and Koi noticed the change and bombarded the King with much more ferocity than before.


    Meh, I have to be honest with you but Koi''s talent as a ranger is actually pretty decent! Since the ranger class is a max of thief and archer, it''s hard focusing on both skills at once. But to my pleasant surprise, he could grasp the theory very well.


    Ah, but his narcissistic personality is just too annoying...


    The boss mercilessly swung the heavy club at Violet, one hit and there was no doubt that she would be instantly killed. The priest paled while frozen in fear, watching her own death draw nearer.


    "Asterios! Save Vio!"


    "I can''t, I won''t get to her in time!? Koi''s too busy saving himself already!"


    All the other party member grimaced in despair when they realized that the mission would end in failure without Violet''s healing capabilities.


    Fumu¡­...DID THEY SERIOUSLY FORGET ABOUT ME!?!?


    ¡­..I''m not even in the mood to do anything anymore, tch.


    Muuuu...but Vio is nice, so I might as well.


    Pushing off from the branch I had been observing on, I shot towards the orc and kicked his hand, knocking the club onto the ground before it could reach Violet.


    Hah! Beat that, I better not be forgotten again. Fufufu.


    I swiftly took out an arrow and stabbed it like a spear directly into the big guy''s eye. Planting my foot on the end, I pushed it in deeper while vaulting off his head and then backflipped in front of Vio.


    Equipping my bow, I rapidly shot the orc''s vital areas one after another, successfully taking down 2% of the bosses health in an instant.


    Pffffft, he looks like a porcupine! Hah!


    ...


    Eh? Why is no one moving?


    Hey! I''m working hard here stalling the boss but no one is taking advantage of that?! Is this party crazy?


    "Hey hey! Why are you guys just watching?" I chided while hooking my arm around Violet''s waist and narrowly dodging the enraged orc''s fist. "Hurry up and kill the boss!"


    Hearing my stern tone of voice, the party quickly snapped out of their daze and once again started attacking the boss.


    Finally, geez.


    Letting go of the priest, I agilely jumped into another tree and accurately threw a knife that stabbed into the back of the boss''s kneecap. Which momentarily stunned it for two seconds and promptly saved Koi from a dangerous punch.


    See, I''m a life saver.


    Hiding in the foliage of the tree, I avoided catching the orc''s aggro and then nocked three arrows at once. Of course, I made sure no one saw me doing this or else I would have become way too suspicious.


    Not that I''m not already¡­


    The arrows flew true to their target and hit both his eyes and wounded kneecap.


    The boss lost his balance and his own momentum caused him to crash onto the ground right on his face, causing the arrows stuck on him to either snap or stab deeper.


    Ouch¡­...King of the Forest, I congratulate you for evolving from a porcupine into a kabob.


    Ack, I feel bad now, but I didn''t want to steal the last hit from the party.


    "Asterios," I said while still hidden in the tree. "Please end its misery, yeah?"


    Trying to spot me but not succeeding, he gave up and nodded.


    "Of course, that will be what I do."


    Oh dang, what''s with this solemn atmosphere? Did I do this by accident?


    I don''t know any more?!


    I watched Asterios cut off the orc''s head with a very troubled expression on my face.


    Ummmm....isnt that a bit dramatic...no? All I meant was to finish it off, I guess my word choice wasn''t that great.


    Oh, I guess they''re splitting the loot now, I''ll join them.


    Noticing me dropping out of a tree, Asterios turned towards me and gave me his heartfelt gratitude.


    "Yuka, thank you very much for helping with our quest. To be honest, I completely forgot about you."


    I KNEW IT. Tch.


    Suppressing my frustration, I put on a gentle facade.


    Errrr, I''m not good with this type of stuff¡­" I shyly said while scratching my cheek. "I just did it instinctively to protect Violet yeah? No need to thank me."


    There, that should do it, right?


    Asterios bowed even deeper. Dammit.


    "No, you also protected us from the crowd of monsters did you not? Your loyalty renders me speechless, I''m enlightened by this new tactic. If I was in your place, I would have lost my temper at being excluded."


    Why am I mad? If only you were really speechless, for some reason I''m ticked off¡­


    "Ehehe, no problem! I''m not part of the party so I understand. I don''t need any loot from the orc either, I got plenty from the boars and I really didn''t do much."


    "No way. You are our benefactor, without you, we wouldn''t have been able to slay the King of the Forest. I''ll let you have the first pick of loot."


    My smile was going to start twitching soon, I could feel it.


    "I humbly refuse, I''m not in need of any of these things. The xp is more than enough."


    I really don''t need any of these things! Nothing for rangers, trash! And I''m not in need of gold either.


    "Hey hey, Rios, we should listen to Yu-chan''s wishes right?" Lyssia said while cutting in with a smile. "She does already have all those items from killing the mobs after all."


    Ah, what an unexpected savior! Although I doubt her inner motives, I don''t really care. Thank you for stopping that guy!


    "Alright then, you can have the dropped gold instead. We will be in your debt, Yuka."


    ¡­


    I almost coughed out blood. Well, the mini-me did.


    Is this guy intentionally pissing me off?


    Because if he is, he''s one scary berserker.


    "A-ah, well, I guess I''ll take it. Thanks!"


    I took it anyways.


    No, I''m not being greedy, it''s a tactic to avoid suspicious okay? I definitely do not want gold to upgrade my house. Nope, your joking. Haha. I totally did not plan this from the beginning yeah? Hehehe. My inner self is doing the money making jig¡­


    "Well, since Yu-chan is so amazing let''s have her to hold our loot so that we don''t lose it!"


    Hmmm, I see what she''s trying to do. What a terrible plan, but I have to admit she''s talented at manipulation huh. Although the sharp glint in her eyes gives it away.


    I guess I''ll play along though, might give me a good window of opportunity to do what I was hoping¡­


    "Hm? Sure, I don''t mind holding the stuff. I don''t need it so I''ll give it back once we arrive."


    "You have my deepest gratitude, Yuka."


    Wow seriously? Asterios must have quite a lot of trust in Lyssia to do what she said without asking or doubting. They must be friends in the real world as well...this will be very useful.


    Asterios handed me all the loot and the party started organizing their inventories.


    Hm? Oh my, Tania is fidgeting for some reason. This party is so interesting.


    Alrighty then, let''s set out for the town!


    Lyssia, I will give you a one-way ticket. And you will choose if the destination is either Heaven or Hell.


    The operation, commence!


    Fufufu, I''m excited.

 14 Heaven, or Hell?

    After finally getting through the lineup and then paying at the gate, we made it back into Zircon. The party immediately headed towards the training grounds to hand in the mission to Abest.


    "Good job defeating the King of the Forest, I was right to give you this quest, East Wind!" Abest claimed while smiling proudly at the party, then he looked at me. "And my disciple, you did a good job helping them as well, as I expected."


    He must have caught onto how I was trying to conceal my real identity but...


    Why didn''t I get any praise too?! What a cruel mentor¡­.but, of course, I don''t have the guts to say that to his face.


    "Yes, sir!" I responded while bowing my head humbly.


    [Quest cleared successfully!


    New Title: Aid


    ''Mentor''s Trust'' has been obtained due to the amount of contribution]


    "Now, I wish to speak with my disciple in private, please give us some privacy." He said to East Wind with an insisting nod towards the exit.


    Oh, must be the next chain of the quest.


    "Sure thing! Hey Yuka, we''ll wait for you at a bar called ''Heavenly Abode'', you can come to find us and then we can split the loot!" Tania cheerfully yelled out while leaving with the rest of the party to reserve a private room. "See ya there!"


    Watching them leave, Abest then warned me.


    "They are very powerful adventures, but you must have already noticed the extra presences. Am I correct?"


    "Yes, sir. I have already laid out a suitable plan to exterminate them, you do not need to worry."


    Hearing my ready response, he wryly grinned.


    "Of course you have, you''re my disciple after all! Well then, after you deal with that, there is a certain person I want you to meet soon. He is the overseer of this town, go to him with this badge."


    Handing me a small silver badge with an eagle engraved in it, Abest wordlessly walked off to find new rangers to torment.


    [Disciple of a Legend - 9/12


    The road is not easy, successfully wipe out the suspicious presences around the East Wind and then head to the Overseer''s Mansion


    Failure: Loss of experience and the hidden quest chain


    Success: Helm of Retribution]


    ??? Well, that''s pretty vague. I guess I''ll just go with the plan I had in mind and then go see this overseer guy then!


    Taking my time, I headed towards the location that Tania had sent me, making sure that the presences I had noticed were still following my every move.


    Heh, well this is getting quite interesting.


    Arriving at the coordinates, instead of finding a bar I found myself in a deserted alleyway with my back at a dead end.


    Suddenly, all the presences revealed themselves. I was surrounded by a group of six men and a very familiar female.


    "My my, Lyssia I wonder what this is about?" I asked with an innocent tone while tilting my head to the side.


    "Tch, is your pretty face just for show? Obviously, this is a robbery, hand over everything you have." She said while threatening me, motioning for her men to close in.


    "Oho, so you didn''t have the balls to do it yourself so you hired these fine men eh?" I provoked in a laid-back stance with my hands behind my head. "Well that''s fine, I can have fun with all of you!"


    "Hah, the only way you saved Violet is because of your items, you''re not even on the leaderboard! There''s no way you can take on seven players at once, hand over the stuff, Yuka." She ordered while wearing a dark sneer. "Admit defeat and we might even let you go!"


    No, I''m afraid I''ve taken on more than just seven before...and I am on the leaderboard.


    "I''ve never heard a sentence that is so far from the truth you know."


    "You can stop it with the nonsense and bluffing. Get her."


    At her command, the six men rushed forward at once.


    These guys are weak. No tactic, no formation, no coordination. Probably the worst crew you could hire. But their individual skills aren''t too shabby! If they were put into better-suited groups, they could be more formidable, but I can still enjoy this fight.


    I''m not a battle junkie, I''m just interested in fighting!


    "Yes! That''s what I wanted, come at me all at once!" I laughed while vaulting over them by kicking off the wall.


    Before they recovered from the shock of their target disappearing, I grabbed onto Lyssia''s neck and flung her like a bowling ball towards them.


    Mhm, that was a nice strike if I do say so myself!


    Before they could get back up, I took out my bow and shot each thug between the eyes. Instantly killing all of them. Confirming their deaths, I tucked my hair behind my ear and sighed in dissatisfaction.


    "Ah¡­..seriously? That was so boring. Why didn''t you get people who could put up a decent fight huh? I know you have the ability to do so~!" I taunted while looking at the lone figure who was picking herself up from the ground.


    Looking around at the fading lights of the men with terror, she turned towards me in rage and sheer confusion.


    "H-how? How. HOW!?!? WHAT TRICKS?" She screamed while backing herself against the wall.


    Oh? Looks like our positions are now changed.


    "What do you mean ''how''? I simply killed them. I guess they averaged level three at most right? Petty things."


    Lyssia''s face paled as she trembled against the wall, disbelief plain on her face.


    "No way...every Asterios can''t do something as easy as that! What type of bug is this!? I''ve never heard of something named Yuka!"


    I cackled while observing her reactions. I put my bow away and sat down on a beat-up wooden crate.


    "Of course you haven''t, no one has! Heck, I don''t even know if there is someone called Yuka that plays Sapphire." I plainly stated while keeping a keen eye on our surroundings for reinforcements or witnesses.


    She froze in confusion at my words.


    "What? But, your....not¡­....who are you then?"


    I raised my eyebrows in surprise. This girl really does have a fast recovery rate! Her manipulation and lying skills aren''t bad either. But the way she figures things out while stuck in a corner is very rare!


    "Ah me? Well¡­"


    Without answering her question, I opened up my inventory and equipped my gloves. Then I flipped up my hood. Seeing the hummingbird design on the back of my left hand, her eyes opened wide in shock.


    "Lynx. The mysterious first ranker who kills people while humming. That''s you!? Why were you hunting with us then!?! We don''t stand out, we don''t have anything valuable! If you wanted to kill Asterios then you could have done it earlier!"


    "Lyssia, you have once again amazed me at the amount of information you have! I have to say, your thinking ability is quite good. Too bad they let you down this time." I exclaimed in an interested tone, walking closer towards her.


    Intimidated by the blood-thirsty aura I intentionally gave off, she shrunk back and desperately pleaded.


    "Wait! Don''t kill me I don''t have anything good!"


    "Oh? And why would I trust you?"


    Stopping my advance, I silently watched as she racked her brain for ideas. She knew what position she was stuck in, if she got me angry there was nothing she could do but delete her character and restart.


    "H-how about I give you information on Asterios! Or the East Wind! Or even better, I''ll sign a contract that gives you all my stuff!"


    "Hmmm, I''m not interested in things I already have."


    Nonchalantly shrugging, I slowly resumed my steady advance towards her until we were only a few centimeters away. Fear was evident on her face and her long blond hair was in a mess.


    "I know! I''ll work for you, if you let me go I promise to leave and never go near you again. I''ll leave my party and guild!"


    Nice, now that''s what I wanted to hear. But first I needed more information.


    "Then tell me, how did you get Tania to work with you? Is she willingly doing so, bribed, threatened? You should know what happens if I find your answer false." I questioned as I raised my pitch-black knife under her chin, staring deep into her shaken and frightened azure eyes.


    "Y-yes. I forced her to help. I-I threatened her with private information."


    "How interesting," I said as my grin widened underneath my hood. "Well then feel free to send me that information hm?"


    Rapidly tapping her shaking fingers, she immediately sent me the threats through private messages on my Lynx account.


    Hopefully looking at me, she glanced at the exit.


    "W-will you let me go now...ma''am?"


    Ma''am? The heck, I''m not that old¡­


    I sneered underneath my hood and drew in closer until our noses were almost touching.


    "Pffffft. Who said I would let you go?"


    Hearing this, Lyssia''s face turned stark white as all hope disappeared from her eyes.


    "Oh but don''t worry, I''m not planning to kill you. But you have to answer this question." I muttered with my knife pressing against her throat.


    "What would you prefer, Heaven, or Hell?"

 15 Oath Contrac

    I, Nitsuya Atsuko, like to think of myself as a pretty lucky person. Born into a wealthy family with an influential background, at age ten I was accepted into a prestigious Japanese school. I steadily rose through the rankings and my popularity soared. Once I was accepted into a very famous high school, I was practically set for life.


    But life doesn''t always go as you expect.


    Into the middle of my first year, like many other girls, I fell in love. But my love didn''t bloom, because he already had his sights on another.


    And that girl was called Yuri Mizuki, the most popular girl in school. Her looks could charm anyone, and her athletic abilities and intellect were overpowering.


    I hated her. From the bottom of my heart, I hated her existence, I wanted to do nothing but wipe that self-satisfied smirk off her face. I wanted revenge for stealing my love, for taking what should have been mine.


    And the opportunity came to me. It was karma, I was finally bestowed a chance to give her a taste of what it feels like to be betrayed and have your heart broken!


    That summer, I spread the news around to every person I had contacts with. I would make her suffer. And in the end, it worked better than I could have expected.


    Not only did she fall from the stage, but she also went even lower and was constantly bullied by the people that used to envy her in the shadows.


    I was satisfied with the result, and she would never find out that I had done it! Watching her pain every day was enjoyable, but for some reason, after a few months, I soon forgot about her.


    Until I saw her once again walking towards me in Sapphire.


    Why did she show up in another world to torment me as well!? I had finally got Asterios to bend to my will, and I had information on the other party members as well. My success in the game was practically sealed!


    Maybe it was a pure stroke of luck, but she didn''t seem to recognize me at all. I quickly came up with a plan that would force her to restart the game, using my connections I hired a few thugs that could do my dirty work. My plan was practically flawless.


    Yet, how did it come to this¡­


    Her dark eyes were as deep as the void, the merciless sneer that filled my vision was carved into my eyelids. I desperately wanted to stop looking into the mysterious depth, but I couldn''t tear my eyes away.


    That was the first time that I truly felt deep terror.


    When I heard my name come out of her mouth I thought my heart would stop.


    Fear.


    I was afraid of this monster.


    While pressed against the wall, the only thing my mind could comprehend was the overwhelming power and the sense of regret.


    Why did I even provoke such a monster?


    Hearing the whisper next to my ear, my brain could not logically make choices anymore.


    "Heaven, or Hell?"


    The whisper of the monster.


    The devil of the abyss.


    That was when I decided in my heart.


    I would never go against this demon again.


    ______


    "H-heaven, "Lyssia whispered in a hoarse voice, her entire body trembling.


    "Hehe, wise choice Lyssia, very, very smart indeed."


    I took a couple of steps back and scrolled through my inventory for another object that I had bought at the auction house.


    [Oath Contract


    Players that sign this are forbidden to go against their word


    Breaking the contract will result in being exiled from the game


    Impossible to reverse


    Up to twenty people can sign the same contract


    Current Owner: Lynx]


    Taking out the parchment, I indifferently waved it in front of her face while prompting her to sign it.


    "Here is your ticket to heaven, I will hold you to your word~"


    Watching her nervously read the contents of the contract, her face paled even more.


    I didn''t know that a human could pale so much¡­


    With a bit of hesitation, she signed it with shaking hands and handed it back.


    "Well then, your fate is sealed." I chuckled while grinning from ear to ear. "Let''s cover up the facade yes?"


    Putting the contract away, I took off my gloves and put down my hood. Turning towards Lyssia, I put on an innocent and cheerful smile.


    "I look forward to working with you, Miss Lyssia! I will message you if anything is needed, for now, just send me a detailed paper on your connections, friends, contacts, and shady facts you have."


    "O-oh."


    "Oh yeah, here''s all the loot. Make sure no one finds out so just follow the plan as if I was beaten up yes? This way Tania should be fooled and Asterios won''t be suspicious. Alright, I think that''s all then. So long!"


    Having my say of words, I promptly used a return scroll and teleported back home, giving her one last happy smile before disappearing into white.


    Finally getting back home, my shoulders relaxed and I slumped onto my fluffy couch.


    "Ahhhhhh¡­.that was more tiring than I expected. I was so absorbed in the flashy exit that I forgot about my mission. Well what can you do about it, I''ll simply go back to town tomorrow." I complained to myself while stretching lazily.


    Suddenly I remember the rewards I had been given from Master Abest, I giddily opened up my status board and check the title.


    [Aid


    Increases stats of party members by 5%]


    Ohhhh, not bad at all. There''s also this new level seven dagger that he handed me.


    [Mentor''s Trust - Special


    - An important dagger given to a trusted disciple from their mentor


    - Increase strength by 3


    - Increase agility by 4


    - Increase dexterity by 2


    - +50 Attack


    - Only Abest''s disciple can use this]


    Ack. It''s the worst when there is something overpowered and I can''t use it! But this is my first even special item, this is a pretty nice occasion!


    Hmmm, it''s almost time that Kai and dad get home from work, I guess I''ll log off and welcome them home.


    After logging off, I headed straight for my room and took a quick shower. Looking at all the bruises over my body, I once again decided to wear a jacket and long pants.


    Sigh, I wish a had wider freedom for choice of clothing. But it can''t be helped.


    Hearing the door opening, I walked into the living room where my older brother and father were currently settling down.


    "Welcome home! How was it today?" I cheerfully asked while drying my damp hair.


    "Ah Yuri, we''re home." My dad said while slumping on a couch. "Today didn''t go so well, nobody could agree on a new event in the game¡­"


    "Yeah, I wasn''t there cause I''m a player, but it must have been tough." Kai agreed while hooking up his coat. "I was sent to the production building instead, it was crazy as well."


    Both of them sat on the couch and deeply sighed.


    "Is there any way I could help?" I asked with a concerned tone, I didn''t wish for my family to suffer.


    "No no, you can just enjoy playing the game! Leave this to us, in fact, Mr. Franco is moving to Japan to help out. His son is actually going to transfer to Tanaka High as well! Make sure that no one bullies him okay Yuri?" Dad said while tiredly chuckling in at his own humor.


    Ehehe...that''s ironic. I''ll make sure he doesn''t get bullied, I suppose it''s fine as long as he stays away from me.


    I know it''s been ten years already, but if I remember correctly¡­.


    Oh crap, Mr. Franco''s son....doesn''t that mean HE''S coming to my school!?


    Gah...how troublesome. I don''t think I ever got along well with him back in America, due to some certain circumstances he had.


    Let''s hope he''s forgotten about me, yeah, I''ll just forget about him for now.


    Helping Kai out with his things, I went to the kitchen and readied dinner. Since I''m the only female in the household, I guess it was natural I would prepare the food. I felt guilty for only preparing little snacks ever since Sapphire came out, so this time I decided to prepare a full course meal.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    I got too carried away.


    We could probably finish half today and have enough to pack into lunches and maybe even dinner.


    Yosh, I''ll cross that bridge once I get to it, for now, I''ll just eat to my heart''s content!


    Thank you for the meal!

 16 Soldier of Zircon

    "Nnngh!?" I gasped in pain while clutching my wrist, having fallen to the tatami floor too hard.


    "Ah!? Sis, you okay?" Toku said while worriedly looking at my pained face, inspecting my hurt wrist.


    "Y-yeah, it''s no big deal. I guess I just lost my balance at the end there and fell awkwardly." I wryly chuckled. "I''ll go get some ice to put on it."


    Ignoring my younger brother''s protests, I carefully picked myself up and left the dojo. Heading back towards the house.


    Toku was currently helping me train my reflexes and hand-to-hand combat. It was going pretty well until I miscalculated, and a wound that I had got during school caused me to lose my balance.


    Hopefully, he doesn''t get suspicious.


    But man, getting beat up by your own sibling who''s two years younger than you really does hurt your pride...even if that sibling has won multiple tournaments.


    Still hurts.


    I''m pretty sure all the big siblings out there understand what I mean as well.


    My ego has been wounded~


    I need to heal my soul in Sapphire. Yup, let''s go find the overseers and then get some PK points!


    Oh, I should restock my arrows and consumables as well. I guess I''ll drop by the auction house once again.


    Maybe I should just make a storage room and fill it up so that I don''t need to go through the trouble every time¡­..but that''s a thought for later!


    Taking a quick shower and then changing out of my training clothes, I immediately hopped into my capsule and logged into the game.


    I had plenty of return scrolls, so I used one without hesitation and appeared back on the town teleport pad.


    Alright! Let''s go find this Overseer.


    Heading towards the building that my mentor had directed to, I walked up to the pair of guards who were standing at the front gate.


    "Hey hey hey, look! There''s another newbie trying to see the Overseer." Mocked a swordsman who was watching nearby.


    Motioning for his buddies to follow him, he sauntered towards me in an arrogant manner.


    "I can help you get in you know!" He declared while disgustingly eyeing my appearance. "But in exchange, I will need you to do me a little favor¡­"


    Ugh¡­..I just have the luck to meet the worst type of person today. Obviously, he must have some sort of quest that lets him inside the gates, but I''m sure that it only works once.


    After all, I did notice plenty of other people approaching the gate before me and getting turned away.


    But why did he choose me¡­..how troublesome.


    Ignoring him, I turned away and kept walking towards the gate. Seeing me brush him off, blood rose up to his head and he shouted in rage.


    "You little bitch! Don''t come begging to me when you''re rejected!" He screamed while stopping his advance and crossing his arms with a nasty sneer.


    I just ignored him, people like him don''t deserve attention.


    Taking out Abest''s badge, I showed it to the guards.


    "Ah, excuse me, kind sirs, I need to see the Overseer on Marshall Abest''s orders." I politely asked while watching them check the badge.


    Apparently, they found it quite real, without hesitation, they opened up the gate and let me in with friendly smiles.


    "Of course, young miss."


    "Yes, our master is expecting your arrival!"


    Oh? How welcoming.


    Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the previous rude man who had approached me earlier. Heh, well he looks very shaken up. His name''s Hitman? I''ll note it down for later.


    "Thank you very. I''ll put in a good word for both of you!"


    [Affinity with Theodore has risen by 10]


    [Affinity with George has risen by 10]


    Nice one Yuri! That was a really good play right there. Hopefully, I don''t forget though.


    I was ushered by a butler into the mansion and gestured to wait in a waiting room. Looking around the place, it was very well furnished and luxurious, as expected of the top dog!


    While waiting on a very comfy sofa, a message arrived in my inbox from Lyssia with all the details I had asked for included. Skimming through the contents, a few I very interesting things caught my eye.


    Fufufufufu looks like this game will only get more interesting from here on out! Lyssia is more resourceful than I thought! I''ll make good use of her.


    Typing back to her, I gave her orders to test her abilities.


    -

 17 A Familiar Figure

    [Disciple of a Legend - 10/12


    You''ve enlisted in the military and gained the Overseer''s favor, but is your loyalty to the city strong enough?


    Goal: Patrol the city and help 10 NPCs or kill 20 players with PK points


    Special: Additional rewards for going above and beyond!


    Failure: Loss of experience and the hidden quest chain, demerit


    Success: Skill depending on contributions]


    [Helm of Retribution received.]


    Yes! I finally got myself a nice helmet, good job me. I''ll check it out once I get back to my cozy home.


    Hmmmm, but this game actually gives quests to kill players? Even if they have PK points, that''s pretty extreme. But I guess there''s a reason why they give a more peaceful other option.


    Of course, I''m doing the player killing, it''s not a big deal for me. And I can even get closer to leveling my mask, win-win!


    Giddily saying farewell to my exasperated mentor, I put up my hood and headed to the auction house at a fast pace.


    Off we go to spend some gold! I''ll see how much of this 80 gold I have on me will disappear today. Earning money is so hard but giving it away sure is easy huh¡­.


    Who knows if there is any high school girl that can control themselves from buying interesting things they see. I sure don''t, not that I know many girls well in the first place¡­.sob.


    Anyway~! Let''s just ignore that fact for now yeah? Yus yus.


    Stepping into the auction house, I quickly settled myself in a lone corner and opened up the auction list.


    What can I buy¡­.the only things that are still rookie gear are my bracers and pants. But I don''t have a necklace and I still have space to wear five more rings.


    Ahhhhhh, deciding is so hard! I''ll just wing it and see if there''s any good level 6 or 7 gear in the market. Maybe I''ll luckily stumble across a necklace or ring, like those protagonists in popular books¡­.hehe. I wonder.


    After a few minutes of monotonous searching and buying random fun items, I finally stumbled across a skill book for rangers that was being sold for a measly price of 2 gold coins.


    I''ll buy it! But I wonder why no one has bought it yet? Skill books for Rangers should be pretty rare¡­.and two gold isn''t much for me. Perhaps other people can''t afford them yet.


    Immediately after purchasing the book, I heard a cry ring out.


    "Crap! Someone just bought the skill book that I''ve been saving up for¡­.I finally scraped together 2 gold today too!?"


    Oh, so that''s the reason. Are rangers really poor or something?


    "Don''t worry man, whoever bought that book is just rich. I doubt they would have any more money after getting it, you can get another one next time!"


    ???


    Um, I still have over 70 gold coins. This pair is really odd, it''s pretty easy getting two gold coins. Just kill a bunch of plain snakes or even just the King of the Forest once!


    Whatever, I''ll just mind my own business. Oh! I''ll mass stock up on some higher quality arrows and scrolls while I''m at it!


    Finishing my shopping spree with 65 coins left in my wallet, I teleported back home with a satisfied grin. My inventory was packed! I really need to get a larger pack sometime.


    I bought a lot of varying scrolls and arrows, adding a few interesting items here and there. Also, I found myself level 3 bracers and pants that gave an additional agility stat. Not as good as my other gear, but decent enough to use until I replace them.


    Time to check out this skill book I bought on a whim.


    [Dual Daggers - Common Ranger Passive Skill


    Conditions for use: Level 5, Agility 10


    Gives the player the ability to wield two daggers at once]


    Simple and sweet, very nice! I''ve always wanted to try doing one of those dual wielding ninja poses, fufufu~


    Eh?! I''m already in high school?


    Pffft, so what, even high schoolers act like this¡­..once in a while¡­...r-right?


    Mhm, as I''ve said before, don''t sweat the details!


    Without hesitation I learned the skill, a faint blue light pulsed around me and the skill name showed up on my screen.


    Score! Now I have three skills, Shadow Walker, Dual Daggers, and the one I got from Master Abest. I''m sure they''ll come in handy soon.


    Right, I almost forgot to equip that new helmet I got from my completed quest.


    [Helm of Retribution - Special Level 7


    -Increases charisma by 7


    -Increases agility by 1


    -Increases dexterity by 2


    -Gain the favor of royalty or higher-ended NPCs]


    Ehhh¡­.it''s sort of disappointing? Although I''m in no position to complain.


    No matter! Charisma is not a bad thing to have, take Kai for example. His charisma is outrageous, God needs to nerf him.


    It''s too bad I can''t equip it yet, it''s just a thin gold band that goes around the forehead. I can probably easily cover it up with my mask or hood.


    Yosh! I''ll equip it with my level 7 knife once I level up!


    While I''m grinding, I can ambush players with PK points as well!


    I''m a genius.


    But how do I find people with PK points again? I guess I''ll take a short trip to the Record Hall, as I remember, it should be Toku''s favorite place to visit in games. Not that it''s surprising at all considering his personality. Yet, for some reason these days he sure is getting home later than usual, but he''s able to protect himself fine. No need to bother with him unless he''s doing something¡­..illegal¡­..?


    N-no way right? Once I log out I should have a nice talk with him¡­..as the older sibling. Since I can''t trust Kai to do these things.


    Although if he heard me say that out loud he would probably start huddling in a corner crying again. Last time he did that, it was a pain to get him to eat dinner with us. What a troubling older brother. Haaaaaaa...just remembering it makes me tired. Time to get my blood flowing again!


    Dropping off all the extra arrows and scrolls in a wooden box for later use, I teleported back to Zircon.


    Alright, now I wonder where this Record Hall is located? I''ll look around for a bit, it should stand out more than the usual buildings.


    Walking around the town in a very laid-back way, I decided to take my time and gather some more information on the recent events happening around the game.


    "Hurry up, if we miss this chance we might never be able to join Mizanco again, the line up has already reached the town square!"


    "Pfffft, what type of name guild name is that?! I would much rather join Crouching Tiger or Gemstone. So much cooler, and Crouching Tiger even has a babe running it!"


    ¡­..Although I agree on how Mizanco sounds lame, why are men seemingly all the same when it comes to things like this?


    But putting that aside, the name Mizanco¡­.you must be kidding me. I have a vague hunch as to who''s behind this guild, but I''ll go check to make sure. The Record Hall might also be near the town square, so I have nothing to lose.


    Picking up my pace, I followed the busy stream of players who were all rushing towards the same location. Arriving at the packed town center, I noticed that there was already a super long line up waiting for the guild.


    Oh my, I really hate lineups you know? But it''s fine, I have the perfect skill for this!


    Activating shadow walker, I silently ran up to the front of the line to see if my suspicions were correct. However, to my dismay, no matter who I inspected at the guild''s reception desk, I couldn''t find the founder.


    Tsk, how annoying, if I was that guy what would I be doing currently? He''s not a really normal person at all, he likes observing more than participating. So where could be a good place to overlook the progress of the line.....


    Oh, well the answer to that is obvious. My favorite place, above.


    With my one minute of invisibility almost gone, I casually strolled into a nearby alleyway and leaped up onto a roof in a very familiar manner.


    Yes, I know, I''m already a professional at getting on rooftops.


    But I really should get myself the common ''Stealth'' skill, only one minute of invisibility isn''t quite enough. I''ll make sure to get my hands on one soon.


    Crouching down on a slanted roof, I scanned my gaze over the many cramped houses in the city. Spotting a lone male in a stance much like mine overlooking the town square, my eyes locked onto his familiar figure.


    Bingo, it was as I guessed.


    Eugene Franco had finally arrived in town, albeit a little ahead of schedule.


    Immediately after his name had run through my mind, he shifted his posture slightly and his eyes accidentally met mine, opening wide in shock.


    ...Frick.

 18 Hitting Level Seven

    A split-second after our eyes met, I immediately made my mask visible and leaped into an alleyway before he could overcome his shock. Not hesitating for a single moment, I sprinted the quickest I could towards the town teleport pad. Weaving in and out of alleys, I managed to arrive in only a few minutes.


    I''m ignoring the stares and shouts, for now, just thinking about new rumors popping up makes my head hurt¡­.


    Looking behind me to make sure I wasn''t followed, I activated my return scroll and flashed back to my peaceful abode.


    Guh, that stressed me out. Hopefully, he didn''t recognize me in that small amount of time, it''s been ten years since we''ve met after all.


    But meeting him in this game this quick is bad bad bad news. He''s already settled down in Japan so fast. Doesn''t this mean he will be coming to school really soon?


    "Ughhhhhh¡­." I groaned loudly while slumping down on my favorite sofa. "This is the worst. I thought dad said it would take a while before they moved, how is this a while?!"


    No no no, complaining about it won''t do anything. Everything''s fine, I''ll deal with it once I cross that bridge. In fact, maybe the school will take some time to accept his application.


    Okay! Let''s check the root-of-all-my-dark-history forums for information on PK players then. Since my visit to the Record Hall failed miserably and it''s too risky going back, this is the only thing I can do for now.


    Hesitantly opening up the tab, I ignored all the headline and quickly searched up PK points.


    If the sake of my sanity, I will refrain from reading popular posts.


    Scrolling through the massive list of complaints and trash talking, I finally found a post that told players how to watch out for player killers.


    Well, except I''ll do the opposite of everything that it says. I want to hunt the players, I don''t mind getting ambushed at all. In fact, that would make things easier for me!


    [How to avoid getting Pked while grinding!


    I know that all of us hate getting killed while simply peacefully leveling, so I piled up some tips that I made to make sure there is less risk while killing mobs. *Warning, these will not always work.*


    First of all, I''m pretty sure everyone knows how to tell PK players apart, but for the sake of noobs, I''ll explain it once again. PKers have red player tags, the more points they have, the darker the shade becomes. You can check how many points they have by inspecting them, but they cannot be ten levels above you or higher to see any information.


    Too avoid PKers while in the forest of beginners, the most suitable places¡­..]


    Ahhh¡­..thank god for noobs. I''m so glad he didn''t skip over that. But there''s no point for me to read over the rest unless I want to get targeted. Do these people not understand that the killers have access to forums as well? For all we know, the author of the post might be luring innocent people into a trap.


    That would be pretty interesting to see actually.


    Yosh! Let''s get hunting!


    Organizing my equipment, I put on my gloves, hood, and mask. They''re my trademark accessories after all! Killing without them wouldn''t be fun.


    Instead of teleporting back to town, I instead ran straight out from my cabin towards the forest of beginners. On the way there, I killed a few level 15 bears and wolf packs, successfully leveling up to level 7!


    Taking a mini-break once again perched in a tree, I happily equipped my helmet and dagger. Now I can use the dual wielding skill! I''ll get some practice on mobs before I actually do it on normal players. Oh right, I also wanted to try out a new technique that I researched on during my free time.


    Squatting on the end of a thin branch that was covered by many leaves, I let my senses spread out and relaxed my tense shoulders while swaying with the breeze and keeping my balance.Lightly holding onto both of my daggers, my loose cloak gently fluttered behind me. I stayed in the same posture for some time, getting a good feel of the wind brushing past me and the ruffling of the leaves.


    Great, everything''s going well so far. Onto stage two.


    I''ve been training my patience and meditation since I was young, so waiting a long amount of time was considered nothing to me at this point.


    After waiting for a few more minutes, I suddenly felt a slight change in the air as the wind started to gradually pick up the pace. Noticing a rustle in the bushes out of the corner of my eyes, a small figure appeared. Without hesitation, I coiled up and bounded off the branch in sync with a large gust of wind and landed on the poor boar, stabbing it in the neck with both knives.


    What was I doing? Uh, trust me, I wasn''t trying to act cool like some ninja okay. It was actual practice!


    To others, it would seem as if I had suddenly appeared out of nowhere and was standing over the boar. The reason is that the large blast of wind acted as a natural silencer against sound, the leaves of the trees acted as cover and combined with my insane agility, I suppose you could say that it looked like I had teleported.


    Although it''s pretty useful, the timing for this technique is quite difficult to achieve. A strong gust of wind has to appear while your prey is still at a reasonable distance. Having a stationary target would be much easier.


    I suppose my luck with this time was just too good!


    But anyways, this dual wielding skill is awesome, if I use it in the right circumstances I could even inflict double damage!


    ¡­.Ah...I just remembered.


    I almost forgot to place my new stat points!


    Of course, I''m placing them all into agility, cause strength can be substituted for skill and technique at this early point of the game. And I really don''t find a need for anything else....okay!


    But, what should I do with all these skill points that I haven''t used yet?


    Thanks to a bonus from my titles, I got a generous amount of 3 every level up. I currently had 21, ordinary players only get one a level.


    ...¡­.You know what, let''s just save these up for now. I don''t have a big use for them, so I might as well apply them when there''s an emergency or a rare skill pops up.


    Finishing up my leveling up business, I sped towards the forest at an even faster speed than before.


    Haaaaaa....I hope I don''t break the game.

 19 I think the world is ending~

    Another figure blurred and faded into white particles around me. Snatching up a dropped short sword, I reflexly rolled to the side as an arrow brushed past my shoulder. Immediately dashing up a tall tree at my fastest speed, I saw an archer under me trembling while swiveling his head from side to side trying to find where I went.


    That shot really freaked me out, way to close!


    Silently stalking the scared player by lightly hopping from tree to tree, I made sure that my movements were always in line with the light breeze that ruffled the leaves.


    After a few minutes of wandering, the tensed up archer finally slightly dropped his guard. Right when he lowered his nocked bow, I pushed off of the trunk of a tree and cleanly sliced his head off his shoulders with a well placed critical hit. Watching his disbelief filled face turn into white, I picked up his dropped quiver and leaped back onto a nearby tree.


    "Whew...! I think this was the fifth bandit group I''ve wiped out today, it''s sure getting tiring. Too bad I''m only a quarter into leveling my mask, but at least I''ve finished the quest." I sighed in relief while wiping off some sweat that had gathered on my forehead.


    I had been hunting PKers in the beginner''s forest for around two hours already, saving a few people here and there from being robbed. But I have to say, I''ve been getting a lot of stuff from these guys. After all, the more PK points you have, the higher the possibility of dropping gear when dying. My player tracer was already practically the same color as my hair! I bet if I was killed right now I would lose at least two pieces of gear for certain, if I was unlucky, possibly even up to four.


    "Fuuuu¡­...I''ll find a safe place in a tree to log out for the day then."


    Finding a sturdy tree that was covered with a lot of large leaves, I climbed up onto a high branch and made sure that I wouldn''t fall once I logged back in.


    "Log out!"


    I stepped out of my capsule and stretched, looking at the capsules located next to me. Both of them were currently in use, that meant Toku and Kai were still both in the game.


    Noticing that it was already late at night, I guessed that dad must have already gone to sleep.


    Dang, I feel bad about skipping dinner again¡­..I''ll make a small snack for when my brothers log off the game.


    Quietly walking into the dark kitchen without making any footsteps, I prepared mini-sandwiches and set them on the kitchen table.


    Taking one that I had made for myself, I quickly devoured it and went to my room to prepare for the next day of school.


    Hmmmm¡­..tomorrow was Friday, so I wouldn''t have to worry about Eugene transferring yet. At earliest he would show up on Monday, but hopefully, it takes a few more weeks.


    Finishing going over my materials for class, I changed into a baggy hoodie and shorts then dove into my bed.


    I''m dead tired from hunting player the entire day, although my body feels fine, my mental state was drained. Hopefully, I get a good nights sleep!


    And with that thought I shut my eyes, falling deep into unpleasant dreams of the past.


    ____


    "

 20 D-deja vu?

    "Yuri, there''s going to be a track meet next month and I need you to participate."


    "Ehhhhh..."


    I was currently once again corned by Akane Tanaka on the rooftop.


    Yeah, in the game and in real life, roofs are my sanctuary.


    But this girl¡­.I swear, she gets on my nerves. But for now I''ll do as she says, I''ve got nothing to lose after all and it''s actually entertaining.


    "The Fall Track Meet right? Okay, just send me the details and I''ll go." I crisply stated while polishing up the rest of my sandwich.


    In case you were wondering, my real lunch was already trashed by some certain people earlier, but I always kept a reserve sandwich just in case.


    Watching me eat my lunch with a slightly tilted head, Akane inquired in confusion.


    "Hey you know, why do you like being bullied? I can tell that you can easily overwhelm those brats while fighting."


    Copying her movement, I also tilted my head to the side.


    "Oh my, I will answer that question¡­..maybe once I feel like telling you?"


    Having her expectations crushed, she pouted in frustration and left the rooftop in a sulking manner.


    Pffffft, although she''s annoying, it''s very refreshing teasing her like this. I suppose it''s made school life just a tad more enjoyable than before.


    Also, everyone seemed to be so excited about new students that I was completely ignored today, except for my lunch, no bullying! Have they all finally forgotten about me? That would be nice I suppose.


    While enjoying the view of the large school field, the ringing of the school bell soon ruined my peace and signaled the start of another period.


    Welp, let''s head on down!


    Bad news¡­..looks like my first suspicion was correct and Eugene was going to transfer next Monday.


    But worse, apparently, another girl will also be transferring at the same time. Hopefully, I won''t have anything to do with her¡­..


    Alright, let''s just forget about this, for now, I can''t do anything about it anyways. I''ll aim to level up my mask these two days!


    Walking into the empty house, I decided to head straight into the game.


    Reappearing in the tree that I had logged off in, I went around my usual route to look for violent players that seemed to be causing trouble.


    After all, I still have a conscience to not kill innocent players who are trying to simply enjoy grinding mobs.


    While hunting for PK players, my mind wandered back to what Toku had said this morning.


    So one of my brothers has finally decided to dip their feet into romance. How interesting! Especially if it''s Toku, his girlfriend must be a really entertaining girl, to even catch the attention of my little brother. While still stuck in my thoughts, I heard a shout ring out.


    "Hey! We''re just trying to grind some monsters, leave us alone!"


    "In your dreams you brat, if you want to grind you better way us a fee! This is our property."


    Oh? I hear some players nearby! Let''s head on over.


    Making sure my hood and gloves were equipped, I stealthily made my way over to the shouting.


    In the small clearing, there was a party of three surrounded by a large group of ten men.


    Hm? I''m getting a sudden sense of deja vu. But I can''t really just jump right in without a reason, I''ll see what happens.


    "Hey don''t worry! Just one gold coin for each of ya and we''ll let you go without dying!" The largest man said while wolfishly grinning from ear to ear. "We promise!"


    The sense of deja vu I''m getting is overflowing my mind. I don''t think I can take it anymore¡­.at any rate, might as well clean this up. The victims are obvious in this situation, it''s impossible to buy land in this forest anyways.


    Quietly landing back on the ground, I circled around to the blind spot of the group''s leader and nocked three arrows on my bow.


    Flying true to my aim, all three arrows reached their target, the eyes of three unsuspecting men who were standing behind the party of three.


    In the face of my overwhelming stats, they were all instantly killed, turning to white particles before disappearing.


    Three down, seven to go.


    Quickly dashing out before they had a chance to react, I stabbed another one in the heart and the man standing next to him with my dual daggers. With half of them already dead, the leader quickly snapped to his senses and charged at me with his ax above his head.


    Ohhhh, not a bad quality ax!


    Somersaulting out of his range, I took out my throwing knives and flung three towards him.


    Ah, I missed one, looks like I need to work on my knife throwing.


    One knife missed the target while another one was blocked.


    Tch, in the end, only one hit him huh. But that''s fine, it was enough to distract him for a bit.


    Nocking another arrow with insane speed, I aimed for his right eye and fired. Only for it to be blocked by another man sacrificing himself.


    Ugh....really? If you want to die that badly, wait your turn. But whatever, four left.


    Instinctively sidestepping to avoid a swing of a sword, and then leaping back to dodge an arrow that was shot, I soon found myself cornered in front of a tree.


    Seeing this, the leader stopped his subordinates and walked up to me with a sneer.


    "You, you''re pretty good huh, little boy? But not good enough."


    ? But I''m not even hurt¡­..well, if they''re going to stop attacking me, I might as well take this chance to kill a few of them. Never let your guard down~!


    Ignoring the leader, I nocked my bow once again with fluent motions and killed their archer that had me pinned down.


    Pushing off of the tree behind me, I leaped over the man and stabbed both my knives into the swordsman while kicking the other hard in the stomach, which sent him flying promptly into a tree.


    The level difference in this game is amazing.


    Alright! Only the big guy left.


    Turning around, I saw the edge of the ax zooming at my face.


    Whoops, I let my guard down.


    Just barely managing to block it with both knives, both the leader and I were at a ''stalemate''.


    Or so he thought.


    "Boy, you really are something. With that glove and cloak¡­.you must be the rumored ''Humming Slayer'' that''s killing a lot of PKers right?" He questioned while warily watching me. "Hey, why not let me go and we can kill that party of three together! You like killing people, so I can have their loot right?"


    ¡­


    Does this guy take me for some psychopath? No, I do not particularly enjoy killing innocents at all!


    "Big guy, you got your facts mistaken. I''m not some crazy serial killer, I''m just doing this for a quest of mine." I said while tensing my muscles and then leaping backward. "In fact, I''d rather enjoy my time drinking tea instead."


    Having my say, I dashed towards him again and kicked his wrist while pinning his ax down with my other foot. With his weapon now dropped, I leisurely took out my pitch-black knife and stabbed it mercilessly into his skull three times to finish him off.


    "And....there goes the last one." I stated while picking up the ax that was registered as ''loot''.


    I''ll sell this at the auction house later.


    Turning around to check that the beginner party was okay, I was greeted by three looks of praise.


    ¡­.?


    "M-mister Lynx! Thank you so much for saving us!" One of them shouted while bowing deeply. "W-we don''t have anything to give as thanks, but we promise to spread the word of how kind you are, sir!"


    ????


    Huh? Now that I think about it, people keep thinking I''m a guy¡­..is it because of the cloak? I suppose it does have the ability to block my identity really well.


    "Eh, no problem. As I said before, I''m just doing this for a quest, no need for thanks." I responded while shrugging my shoulder. "Anyways, I''ll be going now, have fun."


    Leaping back into a tree, I left the clearing and keep hunting for more PKers to add to my points.

 21 Robin: First Encounter

    "Fuuuu¡­..I guess it''s time to take a little break!" I tiredly sighed to myself while leaning against a tree trunk.


    I''ve been killing for nearly the entire day, and I managed to rack up a total of 127 PK points. In addition to the 50 that I got yesterday, in total I should have 177 points!


    I''m almost there, I''m really curious how much my mask will change. Even if I''m not using it a lot, upgrading gear doesn''t hurt!


    While I was lying down and relaxing in the long grass, a message suddenly popped up in front of me.


    -

 22 A Slightly Bad Turn of Events....

-

 23 Level Leaderboard

    "N-no way!? I really am unlucky today?!?!" I stuttered while staring at my inventory. "I-I just got all that gold and now it''s all gone again¡­..well at least it''s better than dropping irreplaceable gear."


    I was currently standing in a deserted alleyway in town. Just to note, it was also very close to the respawn point I had just come from!


    Tyrant was way too strong, I couldn''t even resist before he easily broke my neck.


    I think I might suffer from trauma. I''m shivering just thinking about it.


    The good news is that they didn''t have anyone waiting to ambush me at spawn! They probably didn''t expect to run into me, but the bright light must have attracted them to my spot.


    "Hah¡­...what a pain¡­..especially since dying brings you down a level too." I despairingly muttered to myself while checking my stats again. "Well, I guess I''ll check the leaderboards now. It''s a good thing I didn''t die with all those PK points on me, two hours in prison sounds like hell."


    Flipping up my beloved hood, I strolled towards the Record Hall. I''m pretty sure that Eugene is too busy running his new guild to deal with when I saw him on the rooftops.


    But man¡­..when did we have so many guilds in this town? Crouching Tiger, Union of Shadows, Gemstone, Dragon''s Might, Wings of Freedom, Mizanco¡­...isn''t this really abnormal? And uh, I''m acquainted with someone important from every single one. That''s scary.


    Oh! I almost forgot to turn in my hidden quest, I also completely forgot that I''m also technically a soldier of this place.


    Alright, change of plans, I''ll go see my mentor and then go to the Record Hall. It''s on the way there anyway.


    "Oh, so you''ve finally tasted death? It must have been someone incredible."


    Wow, master, you have sharp eyes.


    "Yes, sir. Unfortunately, I ran into an incredibly strong expert that killed me on sight, sir."


    "That''s a shame, looks like I need to train you more! Dying has also weakened you. Although you''ve done your mission, I will need you to get stronger before I trust you with the next one. Come back to me once you''ve reached level ten!"


    ¡­


    I''m getting depressed.


    [Hidden Quest Updated - On Pause - Unlock next section at level 10]


    I''m crying you know?! Today seems to be my unlucky day.


    "Of course, sir. I will try my hardest to meet your expectations, sir!" I shouted while managing to keep up my poker face.


    I''m still crying though.


    But after seeing Tyrant beat me up so easily I realized that level and stats aren''t the only things important. His technique and skills were absolutely absurd.


    I''ll make sure to get my revenge. Although I''m still weak, I''ll get back at him one day. And then I''ll take back the 52 gold I lost! I''m a girl that holds grudges.


    Yosh, I''m getting all pumped up now. Let''s go check out the Record Hall!


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    I-I see that I''m still first on the leaderboard? Many people have their levels hidden so I can''t tell, but they are at least level five. Even though the level difference between Tyrant and I was so large, I was still only reduced to his punching bag.


    I have no more tears, but my pride is fading¡­..


    So far, the level leaderboard isn''t stabilized since everyone is around the same. It currently looks like this.


    Level Leaderboard:


    Lynx - Hidden


    Asterios - Hidden


    Beryl - Hidden


    Yamada - Hidden


    True Hero - 5


    Lapis - Hidden


    Fang - 5


    November - Hidden


    Faraday - 5


    Tomoe - 5


    I''m actually really surprised that I can recognize seven of the names on the top ten list! That''s including myself of course.


    Although, since it''s so early into the game, the gaps aren''t showing yet. It''s nice to know that no one can inspect me through my cloak though. That''s a relief, maybe I''ll stop wearing my trademark humming gloves for a while.


    Ah, but this place is really crowded¡­..time to leave.


    ¡­


    I just thought of a really good idea, even if I can''t beat Tyrant, I can still send him to prison if there''s a good reason too!


    And there is! After killing me, he should definitely have at least one PK point. My inspect skill can already see through everyone that''s under my level unless they have a special object that blocks it.


    I''ll just ask Lyssia to notify me when they start heading back to the city, then if I get lucky I''ll send him to prison while acting as Yuka.


    Flawless plan, let''s do it.


    ---Make sure to notify me once your group starts heading back.


    ---Sure, but will I get caught up in your antics?


    ---Uh, that depends on if you''ve killed anyone?


    ---So far only Tyrant and True Hero have killed players.


    ---Okay, make sure that you don''t get any PK points.


    ---Yessir.


    There we have it, folks! My foolproof plan will commence shortly. Hmmmm¡­..I''m pretty sure I can arrest up to five people a day. I should try getting promoted, more benefits.


    Time to be a goody-two-shoes and help some poor people out.


    Walking randomly around town, I made sure to greet every NPC I saw and ask them if they needed help. I helped the blacksmith chop wood, the farmer feed pigs, the kids find toys, pick herbs for a sick girl, and I even found a cat for an old lady. After those five small quests, I realized that my ''merit'' points had risen by 5. In addition, my reputation among citizens had increased even more than before, I was at a whopping 1200 Zircon reputation points! Must be because of all the achievements and hidden quests I had done. My titles were also a big factor in my reputation points.


    Hey, if I got to 2000 Zircon reputation points, I could become a baroness! Pretty cool, but I feel like the military route is more interesting than the royalty route.


    I think it''s¡­...Private, Private 2, Private First Class, Corporal, Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, Sergeant First Class, Master Sergeant First Sergeant, Sergeant Major, Command Sergeant Major, Marshal¡­..and Specialist?


    ¡­.


    W-wait a second¡­..d-doesn''t that mean I''m the disciple of the head of the military?


    ¡­.


    T-the pressure really is immense huh. I''ll make sure to not tarnish my mentor''s reputation.


    Alright! Let''s first aim for Sergeant! I know I''m only a Private/Soldier right now but, all you need is 400 merit points to get promoted into a Sergeant. Should be easy enough, I get one point every time I finish helping an NPC in town, ten points every time I kill a field boss, and one point every time I throw five guilty players into prison.


    Time to jam pack the prison building and slay the field bosses to extinction.


    ---Master, my party is nearing the city gates.


    ---Nice, and uh, when did I become your master?


    ---I will make sure to give another report later on.


    ---H-hey did you just ignore my question¡­.


    I think Lyssia is starting to enter her rebellious stage.

 24 New Drinking Buddy

    "T-that foreign lady looks bored, do you think I could cheer her up with a drink?"


    "Heh, if I was her and saw you walking up, I''d run away!"


    "Don''t jinx me, I can speak a bit of English. ....Here I go."


    "Good luck?"


    Uh, I can hear you, and I can also understand Japanese.


    Who the heck would be playing on the Japanese server if they didn''t understand the language?!? Even if I am a random foreigner¡­.THERE''S A TRANSLATOR BUTTON INSTALLED.


    I don''t even read the rules and even I know about it.


    Also...do I really look bored? I guess sitting here doing nothing is less exciting than roaming the forest hunting¡­...


    But I''m just trying to drink my tea in peace, just leave me alone¡­..oh nevermind.


    "*Hello miss! Can I sit?*" A boy asked in English as he approached my lonely table.


    I was sitting in the corner of a bar next to a window by myself. Why? Well, that''s because this bar was located right next to the main gates, I was currently looking out for Lyssia''s party.


    But people like these couldn''t read the atmosphere and just had to try and talk to me.


    Go away!


    "*There isn''t a seat nearby for you to sit in. I will politely reject your gracious offer.*"


    Hehehe, my fluent English shall not be underestimated!


    Oh, he looks really confused now, I did use some sarcasm there. This could be amusing.


    But unfortunately I''m not in a good mood after losing so much gold.


    "*U-uh¡­..sorry, I can not understand much English.*" He stuttered while nervously scratching the back of his head. "*Can you speak Japanese?*"


    ¡­


    This guy...


    "You know, there''s a translator button in the menu. But of course, I can speak Japanese. You need something from me?" I replied, slightly changing my tone after hearing his polite question.


    "I''m so sorry! I didn''t realize at all, please forgive me. I, uh, saw that you seemed to have something troubling you and thought that maybe I could make you feel better with a drink?"


    !!!


    Free drinks! Hell yeah, I love free stuff.


    A slight smile unconsciously crept onto my face and the boy grinned back. Looking around, he dragged over a wooden chair and ordered two cups of beer.


    I guess he misunderstood my smile, but I won''t correct him. After all, in this game you couldn''t get drunk, so even minors could drink.


    I feel like the rule is a bit messed up but, I''m not complaining. By the looks of it, the boy that came up to me was also underage, maybe even still in high school like me.


    Gulping down the beer, I peered at my drinking buddy''s guild badge with an interested expression.


    "Hey, you''re in the guild Mizanco aren''t you? I recognize that guild badge your wearing."


    He looked up from the table and answered with an overly enthusiastic expression.


    "Y-yeah! Mizanco is the best guild ever, the guys are really nice and so is the guild leader!"


    Hmmm¡­..is he talking about¡­..Eugene?


    Continuing his rambling, he steadily leaned closer with his hands on the table and sparkling eyes.


    "Guild leader Faraday is so cool! He also looks like a foreigner like you and speaks perfect Japanese. But he''s weird sometimes as well, recently he''s been looking around at the rooftops and muttering things like ''where the hell is she now¡­.''!"


    "..."


    That''s not my fault, right?


    "And watching him fight up close is even cooler! The guild leader is so amazing, he''s on the leaderboards you know! I''ve even seen him dodge five arrows at once, and his strategies always work flawlessly."


    Uh, he''s leaning in way too close now.


    "He''s handsome, brave, smart, and awesome! He''s the ideal human being, he''s my idol!"


    Ahem...


    "Wow there, too close fanboy. Need some personal space, please. Thank you very much."


    Face turning bright red, he scrambled back into his chair in a flustered manner.


    "S-sorry¡­..I''m really weird. I hope I didn''t creep you out."


    No, you already creeped me out a long time ago. I''m starting to feel really bad for Eugene.


    Old pal, I hope that you have a high tolerance from over-enthusiastic fanboys.


    "....Hm¡­.I guess you must be pretty close to this Faraday guy then huh?" I nonchalantly inquired while ordering another glass of beer.


    "Y-you think?! I''m not really important, but for some reason, no one really notices me a lot, so I''m not stopped when following him around! My friends even call me a ghost sometimes."


    "Hoo? That''s pretty interesting! So are you like that in real life too?"


    "Mhm!" He answered while nodding his head. "Even at school, only a few people know I exist!"


    "...., that''s really sad you know."


    Well, I guess living like that wouldn''t be that bad. In fact, for someone like me who seems to attract unwanted attention, a life like that sounds really nice.


    "You know, it must be really easy for you to stalk people then~!" I stated with a teasing glint in my eyes.


    The boy became increasingly panicked and quickly waved his hands in denial.


    "No way! Once you notice me, it''s easy to keep me in sight. I-I would never stalk someone!"


    "Eh? But aren''t you basically stalking your guild leader?"


    "T-that''s..."


    Pffffft, he''s acting so flustered. That''s hilarious.


    "Now that you think about it, I don''t know your name yet."


    The boy perked up and shyly scratched his nose.


    "Oh, uh, my username is really weird though¡­."


    ?


    "So? Why would I care if your username is odd or not, it''s just a game after all."


    "B-but, I''ve never had a girl ask me for contact information¡­.!" He said while squirming like a teenage girl in love. "It''s just¡­..I''m not used to it¡­."


    "..."


    What? People like that still exist in modern society?


    Does he live in the countryside or something?!


    "..Cause girls seem to never even notice me when I''m around¡­.."


    "..."


    I looked down and patted him on the shoulder.


    "...I feel for you. Good luck getting married, no, good luck getting a girl to notice you."


    "Ehhhhhh?!"


    Mmm¡­..looking at him again, I guess he really does have average looks. Traditional Japanese black eyes, black hair, normal height. Nothing that seems to stand out at least.


    It''s been a long time since I''ve talked to someone average looking like this! I feel really refreshed all of a sudden.


    "You know what, I''ll be a nice gal and add you as a friend. I''m in a pretty good mood all of a sudden, knowing that there''s someone worse off than me." I stated while leaning back against my chair with a stretch. "So what''s your username?"


    "I''m Pink! Nice to meet you."


    "Pfffft!?"


    Crap, I just spit out all my beer, what a waste of money.


    But still, I guess it''s not the worst username to have....?


    "Hmph....! Ba, hahahaha! W-what type of name is that!? Pahahaha!" I howled while ignoring the surrounding curious glances and Pink''s embarrassed face. "Heheheh! It''s been a long time since someone''s managed to make me laugh! Hey, how old are you?"


    "...I''m 18¡­"


    "So you''re a year older than me! Bahahahaha! Heeeeh..."


    M-my sides hurt.


    Oop! Gotta make sure I don''t tip over the chair.


    "....you''re younger than me? You look older¡­.."


    "Disappointed? That''s too bad for you! Anyways, it''s not the worst name in the world. I''m sure you''ll get used to it really soon." I teased while wiping tears from my eyes.


    Whew! It''s been some time since I''ve laughed so hard.


    "Anyways, my name''s Yuka! Nice to meetcha sir."


    "P-please don''t call me sir¡­..you look older than me."


    Hm?


    "It''s probably because Japanese people tend to look younger than they actually are. I think I look like a normal teenager!" I chuckled while waving down a waitress. "Two more beers please!"


    Looking at me in surprise, Pink wore a confused expression.


    "Can you really drink so much? Won''t you run out of money? The beer here is really expensive."


    "It is? I didn''t check the price." I leisurely shrugged while gulping down my third glass of beer. "It''s a game, minors are allowed to drink!"


    "But still¡­..can you really afford it? Each beer is almost one silver each!" He muttered with worried eyes. "That would mean you need to hunt over twenty boars just to afford one!"


    "So?"


    "Huh?"


    "Is it really such a big deal?"


    "W-what? The only person I know that can hunt boars right now is guild leader, they''re level five! I''m only level 2....."


    "Oh, I see." I brushed off his anxiety with an exasperated look and a wave of my hand. "Sir, you know that grinding is not the only way to earn gold right? There are countless other ways to earn quick cash, I just happened to stumble into one of them."


    "R-really? Then, can you tell me!? I need gold to prove to guild leader I can help him!"


    ¡­


    "You¡­..is the guild leader really that important to you?"


    "Of course! If he tells me I did a good job, I would be able to die satisfied!"


    "...huh."


    Looking into his practically worshipping expression, I turned away and looked out the window. Coincidently noticing a familiar party out of the corner of my eyes, I quickly lept up from my chair and paid for the drinks.


    "Well then Pink! I''m in a rush now, it was nice getting to know you!"


    "H-huh?"


    "I''ve already sent a friend request, we can chat later. See you!" I said while cheerfully waving goodbye.


    Although on short notice, the time for my revenge has finally come!


    Time to throw some people into jail!

 25 True Hero is a Pervert, prison is a yes for you~

    Poker face? Check.


    Fake username? Check.


    Acting skills? Check.


    A burning hungry spirit for justified revenge? Uhhh¡­...check?


    I can''t say that this revenge is justified, but I do feel the rage at losing my money!


    My money is my life, you don''t touch it unless you want to die.


    Or suffer some other way of course.


    Alright, I''m fired up.


    ___________


    "Scuse me, I''m doing a quest so would you mind helping me out for a second~?" I politely asked True Hero with my best smile. "I''ve been stuck on this one part for quite some time..."


    All five players in the party froze and stared at me after hearing my request come out of the blue.


    I have a feeling that Lyssia is staring at me for a different reason than the guys though.


    "O-of course! I will accept your request and use up my precious time, be grateful!" True Hero pridefully replied while puffing out his chest. "You can ask me for anything, I''m the leader of a guild that rivals Gemstone!"


    "Ohhhh! You''re really amazing sir, all I need is to lead five people to a guard. He''s the person that gave me the hidden quest! Will you come with me?"


    Fall for it, come on, I have my best puppy face on right now!


    Right when he was about to agree, Tyrant stepped in with a suspicious look on his face.


    "Boss, I don''t think we can trust this stranger. Something smells really fishy right now. I suggest that we leave."


    "H-huh, oh, if you say so Tyrant¡­.she smells pretty good to me¡­.."


    No way!? Stop ruining all my plans you busy body, just leave your instincts in reality or something!


    Cough, I''m purposely ignoring that creepily perverted mutter, it might break my act.


    But now I want to send him to prison in real life too.


    "Wait, I believe we may benefit from following her." The only female in the party cut in. "She said she has a hidden quest right? They''re very hard to come across if we help her then she will need to pay us fairly as well. There''s no way a simple solo player can stand against our guild."


    Yes, you tell them Lyssia! Big brain!


    "Lyssia, I knew that it was a good decision to let you join us! I''ll give you a raise for bringing up good points." True Hero laughed while patting Lyssia on the back with a relieved expression.


    "Thank you very much. But I have to warn you that there is still a chance she will do something unexpected, please don''t hold it against me if she does."


    "No no, of course, I won''t."


    ¡­..


    Lyssia, you''re saving yourself huh. I was about to give you stuff as thanks but maybe I''ll keep them and sell em instead.


    But at least she got them to follow me. Their guild leader is easily swayed, how is this pervert fitting to be a guild leader?


    I''ll call him Pervert in my head from now on.


    "Well then, if you got that all figured out then please follow me! It''s not that far away from here."


    The party of five cheerfully followed me as I led them skillfully through the town.


    I''ve already memorized the entire city, it''s not like there''s a possibility of getting lost. But just in case, I''ve decided to lead them to the place I''m most familiar with.


    The training grounds! Yup, it''s time to go meet master! This way even if Tyrant does something, my master can help me out. He''s been wanting to meet the guy that killed me after all.


    What a nice mentor, huh.


    "Where are you taking us, miss?" Tyrant asked with peered eyes as he surveyed our surroundings. "We seem to be headed towards the training grounds?"


    Smart son of a gun. Go die.


    "Yup! The guy that gave me this quest is waiting there, all I have to do is bring five people to him!"


    "So¡­..what type of quest is this exactly? Care to share the information with us?"


    ....no.


    "Sure! So apparently he''s looking for someone good enough to be his disciple, I ran across him by chance while looking around town. He''s giving me all these weird assignments, and if I do them then I get really nice rewards!"


    See, I''m not lying at all, just twisting the truth a bit.


    Not finding traces of lying on my face, Tyrant turned away with a disinterested tone.


    "Oh, I guess I shouldn''t have expected much."


    Nice, he bought it too! Things are going so smoothly, it''s getting me scared.


    But that doesn''t matter, I see my master!


    "He''s right there!" I exclaimed while enthusiastically pointing in Abest''s direction.


    Following my gaze, all five members of the party zoomed in on my master''s back.


    "W-wait a second¡­.." The only ranger in the party stuttered. "Isn''t that guy the only Marshal in this city?! Marshal Abest, one of the highest leveled NPCs, also one of the most respected people in Zircon. You''re telling me that you''re trying to become his disciple?!"


    ¡­...Master¡­...your reputation exceeds you. I''m so proud.


    "Yeah! He''s a pretty nice guy once you get to know him!"


    """""..."""""


    Oh? The entire party is silent all of a sudden, how curious.


    ---M-master, how come I''ve never heard that you were the Marshal''s disciple¡­.?


    ---Hm? You never asked, did I forget to tell you?


    ---....Master¡­..


    ---Will you stop calling me master, makes me sound like an old guy living in the mountains.


    ---But you are living in the mountains, right?


    ---...Yeah.


    ---If I can''t call you master, I''ll just call you by your first name. Yuri.


    ---Oh, sure, everyone does that without my permission at school anyways.


    ---.....So sorry.


    ---Eh? You''re forgiven.


    ---By the way, are you a masochist?


    ---That came out of nowhere.


    ---But you like getting bullied right¡­..? You can easily stop them after all.


    ---Uhhhh¡­..well that''s beca¡ª


    "S-so you''re this important guy''s disciple, right? Introduce us, and get him to support my guild. I''ll give you a gold coin if you do!" Pervert demanded after getting caught up on how significant my master was. "I will even allow you to join my guild, you should be honored!"


    .....o-ohhh...? But I''m playing solo.....? I even promised the readers....


    "What are you still standing around for? I told you to do it so go!"


    ¡­...a-re~?


    This guy is trying to piss me off right?


    Right, ~?


    So that means it''s fine now that my revenge is justified, hm?


    "Sure, I can do that much as thanks for your help. Let''s go over."


    "T-that''s right, you should be filled with gratitude towards me! I''ll even let you become my girlfriend, you should be jumping for this chance!"


    What? Why should I be jumping for a chance to become the girlfriend of a stupid perverted guild leader who lives at the bottom of a well?


    "Terribly sorry, I''m afraid I already have a boyfriend."


    I was hoping that would stop his talking for good, but unfortunately, it only made him hesitate for a split-second.


    "That''s no problem, I''m definitely much better than any other man. Break up with him, he''ll understand!"


    ...


    "Hahaha.....no thanks, I''m not willing to become your girlfriend."


    "....you''re funny as well, I like it! It''s no problem, we can talk about this after we finish your quest."


    "O-oh¡­..okay."


    Not even in your dreams.


    Calmly strolling up to Abest, I tapped him on the shoulder and changed my tone.


    "Sir, I''ve brought the people for my quest!"


    My master turned around with a poker face, he stared at me for a second and then directed his gaze towards the party behind me.


    "I see¡­...so you''ve got them. Good job, Yuka."


    Nice acting! Master, you really catch on quick! And judging from how your gaze is directed towards Tyrant, you''ve already figured out who was the one that killed me.


    I would give you applause, but I doubt you want it.


    I turned around to face the party with an innocent and cheerful smile.


    "Now off to jail you guys go! Bye bye!"


    "W-w-wait what?!?


    "Everyone get behind me! No wai¡ª"


    "Eh.!?"


    Tapping Pervert and the ranger on their shoulders, I promptly sent both of them to the NPC jail.


    Have fun in there for an hour! Or more, I guess it depends on how much people you guys killed.


    Dashing towards the mage in the group, I blocked off his escape route and cut off his chant with a swift kick to the abdomen.


    That''s another one going to prison.


    Now there''s only one left, leaving the best of last after all.


    I turned around and found Tyrant loyally standing in front of Lyssia with a guarded stance.


    How cute, I ship them~


    But sadly, your relationship will have to be long distance!


    And through prison bars.


    I bent down and rushed towards him, feinting to the right while pretending to try and reach Lyssia. Desperate to protect the last member of his client''s party, he lunged to the side to block off my path.


    Just what I expected, sending Lyssia to jail wouldn''t work anyways.


    "*Bye-bye*!"


    Grabbing hold of Tyrant''s outstretched arm, I sent him straight to jail right after his boss.


    Standing straight back into my normal posture, I calmly chuckled and looked towards the last member of the party while dusting off my cloak.


    "Hey Lyssia, you sure that that guy doesn''t have the hots for you? If he did, it would be easier to manipulate him. Love is scary, you know?"


    I don''t speak from experience though, to all the singles in the world, I promise to never betray you guys. Death to all the flirty couples that need to find a room instead of making out in class or on the streets!


    Toku, I hope I taught you well.


    Alright, back on topic.


    ".....I cannot be certain. But if you order me, I can easily make him fall for me." She stated while still having her expressionless look on her face.


    "Ohhhh~! That''s my girl, I knew you would be able to do it!"


    That''s Lyssia for you! Here, have a majestic thumbs up.


    "Well then, I will be heading back to my guild ''headquarters''. Please feel free to message me if you need anything at all." Lyssia said while giving me a light bow.


    "Sure thing, oh right, just another question real quick."


    "?"


    "Are you in the school track team? Can I call you Sia instead?"


    Tilting her head at my random question, she answered honestly with a bit of confusion.


    "That was two but¡­.in fact, I am, and feel free to call me anything you desire. Tanaka-san has asked me to run in the 100m at the next track and field event. Why do you ask?"


    Oh¡­...Akane is really serious about the fall track and field meet.


    "Hm, I do remember that you were quite fast. Alright then, I''ll look forward to seeing you run!"


    "Are you perhaps participating as well?"


    "Mhm, Akane found out my Lynx identity and threatened me. I''ll be doing the hurdles."


    "W-what a sly and cunning woman, to threaten maste-...you like that! The girls in the team won''t be happy with you though¡­.."


    Ah. That''s right, I forgot about the track team girls. What a pain¡­..but if they don''t approach me then I''ll just ignore them for now.


    "No problem. As long as nothing major happens, I won''t be taking any action."


    "Alright then, I will leave it to you. If you need help, I''m willing to step in at school."


    Awwwwww¡­...she''s so nice!


    "And uh, why do you call Tanaka-san by her first name? Are you two close at all?"


    "? No reason. Seems for natural and she doesn''t seem to care. I''ll make sure to address her normally in public though."


    "....I see, then I will see you later, Yuri."


    "Okay! Bye then!"


    ¡­..wait, later? Isn''t it the weekend¡­..we don''t have school¡­..heh, Sia can be funny sometimes.


    I gave her a wide grin and teleported back to my house with a scroll. Today was weird, I lost a ton of gold, met Pink, went on a drinking spree, and also successfully got my revenge.


    I think today has been quite a busy and random day for me.


    Oh! I almost forgot that my mask is finally leveled up, so it lets me turn into an NPC for a few minutes¡­..that could be very useful. Sadly, it has a long cooldown.


    But that''s fine, I''m still weak right now. I can''t even protect myself from someone lower level than me, and I died in three shots.


    I need to pick up the pace. After meeting Toku''s girlfriend tomorrow, I''ll make sure to get stronger.


    I need to get more skills.


    Or else I how would I protect the people close to me? Or even protect myself.


    I don''t want the past repeating itself.


    I''ll be sure it won''t.


    I bet my life on it.


    ¡­


    Uh, quite literally bet my life on it. No doubt I''m going to be targeted soon.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ...


    Awwwww, I got so serious. Hehehe~!


    Although I really did mean everything about getting stronger, being serious tires me out.


    Time to log out!

 26 F-friend?!?

    "Achoo!"


    ¡­..? Someone talking about me? That''s rare, I bet it''s nothing good though.


    Whatever, what happens, happens.


    Ah! I''m currently analyzing some old martial art tapes in the dojo, didn''t have anything else to do while waiting for Toku to show up with his girlfriend.


    "Ah, I finally found you. Yuri, your house is huge you know? Do you come from some important family or something?" A voice said from behind me. "And your even looking at tapes in a dojo, seriously?"


    I turned my head around and saw a very familiar blonde standing behind me dressed in a simple cream cardigan and black yoga pants.


    "Oh Sia, yeah I''m just checking out some old vide¡ª¡­...Wait a second what are you doing at my house?"


    Sia cocked her head cutely to the side at my question.


    "I did say ''see you later'' yesterday right? So I came over, I wanted to ask you some things face-to-face. This way you can''t run away you know?"


    ¡­..


    "How''d you get in? How''d you even find my address?"


    "Ah, I just asked Tanaka-san. Your older brother let me in. Yuri, why is your brother so good looking? He almost made me instinctively confess to him on sight, you know how scary that is? I''m not even into older guys."


    ".....So that''s why¡­..I should tell Toku, no, he probably already knows¡­.."


    "Hey, you okay? Don''t worry, I didn''t fall for him or anything."


    "I see, I give you my praise for that. You got some strong willpower there, or just really high standards."


    Sia sat down on the tatami mats in a cross-legged position while rummaging through her small backpack.


    "Nah, one look at him and I knew he was an ultra-dense air headed prince charming who doesn''t understand the world around him. Not my type."


    ¡­..Lyssia¡­..my respect and awe of your perception and observing skills have gone through the roof!


    "Eh? Then what is your type?"


    She paused her movements for a second in thought before continuing her search.


    "Probably a male version of you, actually."


    "Sorry, I''m straight." I immediately responded with a serious flat tone.


    "That''s not what I meant!? I''m straight as well okay!?"


    Whew, although my name is misleading, I''m not into girls at all. It''s a relief that my first friend isn''t either.


    Hm? Friend? Does Sia really count as a friend?


    I have no clue, why not just ask.


    "Do you count as a friend?"


    Sia froze and stared at me with a blank face.


    "Yuri, you''re pathetically alone you know. Do strangers randomly come to your house on the weekends?"


    "Mhm¡­...sometimes?"


    "....Well, I''m ignoring that. I guess you could call us friends, but aren''t I more of a slave?"


    Oh, I forgot about the contract.


    You know, it was pretty weird that I managed to get hold of one from the auction...but if you piece things together, it actually makes sense.


    "You''re the one that sold the contract in the auction in the first place right?"


    "..."


    "You know, I found it odd but, I bought it for a measly price of two gold. No one would sell something so rare for such a low price, and only a few days after the release too. I was probably the only person in the auction house at that time with so much gold on me. In addition, it weirdly popped up right when I opened up the auction page."


    "..."


    "You were expecting me to buy it right? I did feel someone watching me while I was doing odd errands for Abest, you noticed me right away. Anyone that watches me after a period of time should know that I could afford something that''s only two gold and that I would buy it without hesitation. I''m pretty sensitive to gazes."


    "..."


    "Did you feel guilty about my bullying perhaps? Maybe you wanted to be my friend but didn''t want to seem awkward? You only brought seven people into the alleyway, knowing full well what my capabilities were, you aren''t that stupid. Using your privilege as an important elder, it wouldn''t be completely impossible to get your hands on an oath contract. I know for a fact that your acting skills are also very well polished, I remember you were in the theatre club last year."


    ".....You know Yuri, you''re too bright for your own good."


    "I could say the same to you, you could have made a huge profit off of that contract. Tsk tsk, you''re so shy."


    "W-wha¡ª?" Sia stuttered and her face turned beet red. "No! I just didn''t know what to do with such a valuable contract, that''s all!"


    Hm? Isn''t there a word for this type of person these days¡­...ah!


    "Sia, could you possibly be a tsundere?!"


    "NOT AT ALL. I''M A NORMAL PERSON."


    "Okay~! If you say so¡­.."


    Fufufu, this is really interesting now. I''ve always wanted to meet a real tsundere, their characteristics and tendencies are so curious.


    "A-anyways, back to the topic. Yuri, is your family rich? You have a crazy place here¡­.."


    ¡­


    "N-no, I like to think of my family as pretty a-average?"


    ".....Why do you sound like you''re questioning yourself."


    "Ahem, it''s true that we aren''t famous or have important lineage though. I''m just a normal girl living in a normal house."


    "What a lie." She sighed while tiredly shaking her head. "Whatever, you can tell me once you feel like it. That''s not what I came over for after all."


    ?


    "Hey Yuri, what''s your goal in life?"


    "Uh, to just be a normal girl."


    "I see, so you''re failing already."


    "E-eh??!!! No matter how you look at me, I''m perfectly normal!"


    "Hm? No matter how you look at it, your thoughts on ''normal'' are extremely warped."


    "..."


    T-that might be true...


    Sia held up the object that she had been looking for in her bag. It was a small hologram projector that can play recorded clips into the air called an RYKube-T, it came out just recently after Kai finally got Toku interested in them for a bit¡­...but that has nothing to do with this.


    Sia placed the small sleek black cube onto the tatami mats and gently pressed the top, projecting a video of my classroom into the dojo.


    ¡­...That''s creepy, I can see myself sitting there¡­...oops, Ryuu came and hit me.


    You know, watching yourself getting hit from a third-person view is more disturbing than I thought.


    The video kept playing and Sia watched without a single trace of any expression, she must have seen it quite a lot already.


    ...


    For some reason after just a few minutes, I''m starting to get really uncomfortable¡­...the video feels too different from the real thing.


    I glanced over at Sia and noticed that she was still staring at the bullying that was happening in the hologram.


    Now that I think about it, how did she manage to get this in the first place...? Maybe a small micro camera that she set up before or after school, I wouldn''t be really surprised. She does seem like the type of person that would do that.


    "Hey Yuri, I can tell from this video that you''re not a masochist, so why do you let them bully you?"


    Do I seem like a masochist?! T-that tramples on my self-dignity a little¡­..


    "If you aren''t going to answer then I''ll be going, the only reason I came here was to ask you."


    "I''m not! Never in my life have I thought pain feels good!"


    ".....Soooooo....why do you let them hurt you then?"


    "Eh? No, I just....have my own reasons for letting them do stuff. It doesn''t trouble me that much in the first place¡­.."


    Suddenly Sia stood up, took her bag, and headed towards the door.


    "Yuri, if that''s your answer then maybe you aren''t so bright after all."


    ?


    "I''m your friend now right? So you should think about what I might feel after watching you get harassed in public in front of peers, doesn''t feel really good."


    "Uh.."


    "And even worse, you aren''t even standing up for yourself when you have the ability too! Does that means you accept that they''re better than you!? Even if you have some stupid reason, I doubt it matters a whole lot! You know what, if you still don''t get it then I''ll just have to find a way to stop the bullying instead. It''s my responsibility after starting it anyway, I feel guilty about it. Humans shouldn''t be treated like that at school, I know I''m being a hypocrite but I apologize. I was blinded by my anger and jealousy back then, I won''t do it again."


    "..."


    T-this¡­..I''ve never had to deal with friendship drama before. What do I do in situations like this? Should I just stay quiet¡­.?


    "You know, I''ve been having nightmares for weeks now. And you''re in every one of them."


    I don''t like where this is going¡­...nightmares aren''t my cup of tea.


    Sia kept talking to me with her back still turned and facing the door.


    "I swear Yuri, I''m don''t tend to get scared easily, yet when I just see replays of myself in your position getting bullied every day, I got pretty damn scared."


    Uh¡­.okay.


    "I''ll do whatever I can I repay you, I got you into this mess while you should have been enjoying normal high school life. Even if I have to take your place, I''ll do it."


    ¡­..I know I should be crying out forgiving words or something, but for some reason, this sappy drama isn''t really right down my alleyway.


    It''s just too.....mushy?


    If you know what I mean.


    "Y-you know Sia, you''re one of the school''s most popular girls, I doubt a cute and smart girl like you would be bullied¡­."


    Crap, I think I made things worse, she''s starting to laugh hysterically like characters in those popular movies and anime.


    "HAH! Hehehe¡­..Yuri, you need to take a good look at yourself! I know lots of boys bully you, but most of them still have major secret crushes on you, do you know what they call you in secret?"


    ¡­...Scary people out there¡­.calling me names¡­...


    "The Fallen Goddess! You''re no doubt the most beautiful, athletic, and smart girl in the entire school you know. People even call you a goddess, that''s honestly the only reason girls bully you at all, jealousy."


    ¡­..That''s nice and all, but the ''fallen'' part ruins it for me. Makes me sound like Satan or something, do people think of me as some demon? Maybe it''s because of my hair...


    "Anyways, I''m leaving, but I''ll make sure to stop the bullying once and for all after a few weeks. You have my word, I just need to gather more reinforcements and evidence..."


    W-wait! No no no, this sounds like it will attract way too much attention than needed!?


    Before I could unfreeze myself from my spot on the ground and stop her, Sia was already gone and leaving the property.


    Dang, she really is fast, no wonder Akane got her to join the track team.


    Well whatever, what happens, happens! My motto is to not sweat the details, I''ll cross the bridges when I get to them or build them myself.


    I doubt this is something I should think too deeply into.


    I guess I''ll get ready to meet my little bro''s first girlfriend, this should get interesting.

 27 The Little Brother SS

    Yo, I''m Toku Mizuki, and apparently, I''m supposed to be a genius.


    That''s what people keep calling me anyway, but they seem to be looking at the wrong sibling.


    I''m not the genius of this family, it''s my older sister.


    How''s she a genius? Well let me explain my family first.


    My dad is a computer expert and the sole creator of Sapphire, the world''s first VRMMO. That''s already pretty amazing for a family member right?


    Except everyone in my family is like that, even my dead mom.


    Ah, don''t worry about it though, I don''t get really emotional after thinking about her. I was only five when she died after all, don''t remember her well anyway.


    But she was amazing, her looks, her brains, and her sociability. Even more badass, apparently the president of the United States once secretly fell in love with her on sight by coincidence.


    He was instantly rejected, of course, the public doesn''t know these things.


    My mom is so damn cool.


    Then there''s my older bro, Kai.


    Now¡­...he''s a weird one, that''s for sure. His density levels pierce the heavens, yet, maybe he managed to reach God that way because man, his looks are flawless.


    I mean really? God, if you exist, did you really need to spend so much time on my brother?


    I don''t even want to mention the number of people that confess to him every day, I''ve even seen it happen in the guy''s bathroom, twice.


    The first time was a guy.


    But the second time was a girl that had stormed into the bathroom just to get his attention.


    It gave me the chills. Her expression was creepy, I swear I saw her drooling while confessing to Kai.


    Last of all, there''s my older sister Yuri.


    I don''t really know how to explain her but¡­...all I can say is that she shouldn''t exist in this mortal world.


    And I''m not a siscon okay? I''m being an honest little bro here, I can''t understand her.


    I''m praised to be a genius, and I can''t understand her!


    It''s not that she''s odd, or has superpowers. Or maybe she does, I dunno.


    But I know for a fact that she is the true genius.


    For example, a genius is a person who is exceptionally intelligent or creative, either generally or in some particular respect. That''s what the dictionary says at least, I''ve already memorized it.


    I''ve memorized the entire dictionary I mean.


    That''s not me.


    I''m not a ''genius''.


    I just didn''t want to get left behind, my family is too amazing. I spend every second of my life training my brain, memorizing statistics, reading books and contemplating war strategies.


    This is just the result of my fifteen years of hard work, not by suddenly being enlightened or already understanding everything without even being taught.


    Yuri is different from the rest. Although she doesn''t know anything at first and is actually sometimes a scatterbrain, her genius lies in her talent for learning.


    Yeah, I don''t get it either.


    When I teach her self-defense, she can pick up new moves instantly and master them after only a few hours of practice.


    See? Pure genius, don''t know how else to explain it. I asked Kai how she was doing with archery and he said the exact same thing. The first time she held a bow, she managed to copy Kai''s form perfectly.


    That''s my older sister for you, doesn''t disappoint at all.


    I should work harder to catch up.


    And although she says that the people on the leaderboards in Sapphire are crazy¡­...I think she''s the crazy one. I bet she''s defying everyone''s expectations and is doing something crazy in that game.


    Heck, I''ll bet my life on it. My sister is crazy.


    Ah, but she''s really good looking as well, almost as much as Kai.


    Heh, not that she realizes it in the first place, she''s like Kai with that as well.


    I feel like I''m the only normal person in this family right now...


    But I do still love them a lot.


    Well, what can I say, I''m not the type of person who acts mushy all the time.

 28 Pika-Pika~!

    Let''s see, I still have three hours before Toku comes home so I guess I''ll try out some of the easier martial techniques I watched.


    Honestly~.....the videos make them look complicated but I personally think they''re pretty simple!


    I fluidly positioned myself in the middle of the dojo and stretched out my muscles. Going over the fighting moves in my head, I took a deep breath and started training.


    I think it''s like this¡­... left-handed parry¡­.right counter with a step and round kick?


    Ah, there we go, I think I''m getting the hang of it.


    Alright! I''ll repeat this move a few more times and then start trying out the next one, should be easy enough.


    _____________________


    I swiftly jabbed out my fist at an imaginary opponent while turning my momentum into a fierce left hook. Not hesitating, I slid forward and gave a low kick which propelled me forward and gave me enough speed to perform a splendid roll to the side to dodge any attacks. With a few more quick combinations and kicks, I successfully cornered my ''opponent'' after just a few minutes.


    Unfortunately.....I''m still not fast enough, Tyrant could have killed me already if this was in the game¡­..


    How should I improve my speed...running? Maybe I can ask Akane for some tips, the school track team does have lots of ways to become faster.


    Lost in my own thoughts, I didn''t notice the couple standing in the doorway watching me with agape mouths.


    "...No way¡­..Sis¡­..how much have you improved this past week?" My little brother pondered while staring at me in amazement.


    "Toku, this is your sister!? She''s amazing!!! My new idol! Take me as your disciple!" The girl standing next to him exclaimed, excitedly tugging on his sleeve.


    Crap. I must have lost track of time!


    "O-oh Toku, I didn''t notice you there¡­.."


    Standing next to my brother, there was a girl who was half a head shorter than him and had long silky black hair. Her eyes were identical to Toku''s and she radiated a very calm and cheerful aura.


    Hm......? She seems more normal than I expected.


    "You''re Yuri, right? Can I call you that? Did you teach yourself all those cool moves?! Can you teach me as well?!" She excited asked while running up towards me.


    Yikes, I''m still in my work-out clothes and covered in sweat¡­...ah, but at least she looks like she doesn''t mind.


    "Y-yeah, you can just call me Yuri. And Toku taught me most of the martial arts¡­.."


    Glancing over to my brother for agreement, he slowly shook his head in exasperation.


    "Sis...I didn''t teach you any of those moves, where did you learn them from?"


    Huh? Well, that''s odd.


    "Just the old tapes I found in the storage room¡­..I only managed to practice them for a few hours so the moves aren''t perfected yet."


    ".....You mean the grandmaster arts? I''ve been trying to make sense of their techniques for days!"


    ....Oh. My bad.


    ".....pure genius¡­..possible...?"


    Uh, Toku, your girlfriend isn''t normal after all. She''s muttering a lot of weird things under her breath¡­..


    As if reading my mind, Toku turned towards me and nonchalantly shrugged.


    "Don''t mind her, she does that a lot. Pika''s crazy smart and whenever she mutters like that means she''s trying to figure something out. Isn''t she interesting?"


    ".....Oh, no wonder she caught your attention." I responded with a dry grin. "Why can''t our family just get someone normal for once¡­."


    "I''m pretty sure normal people wouldn''t fit in our family really well. We don''t have any here after all."


    "I''m normal though?"


    "....."


    I wonder why Toku got quiet all of a sudden.


    "Right, nevermind that. Who were you pretending to fight by the way?"


    How should I respond to this without attracting suspicion¡­.


    "A weaker version of Tyrant, I had a chance to see him fight once and he''s really fast."


    "Oh, I saw him too, I bet he could beat me in less than twenty moves."


    Nice. He bought it!


    "I bet you could beat him though, Sis! You''ve got a lot stronger this past week."


    ...I lost to him in three moves...but I''m not going to mention that.


    I have some pride left, gotta keep my dignity in front of my little sibling!


    Suddenly, Pika came out of her mindless muttering and bombarded me with an avalanche of questions.


    "Yuri, what''s your Sapphire username? Are you on the leaderboards? I bet you are, you''re so amazing after all! Most likely in the top five at least¡­...maybe Lynx? Or maybe Tomoe...no that won''t make sense¡­...definitely Lynx then. Judging on your solo fighting style and the way your arm muscles are built, you know how to use a bow and dual wield daggers! You''re really cool!"


    COUGH. TOKU YOUR GIRLFRIEND IS SCARIER THAN YOU. WE REALLY NEED SOMEONE NORMAL FOR ONCE.


    I gotta find a way out of this somehow¡­..think...come on¡­..


    "Sorry to disappoint you, uh, Pika-san. I do play a lot of Sapphire, but I''m not into leveling at all. My username is actually Yuka in the game, just an average nobody."


    "Just Pika is fine! Toku, is what she says true?" She asked while quizzically turning her head towards Toku for confirmation.


    "Yup. I''ve even friended her in-game and messaged her, what she says is true. I don''t really understand it myself but¡­...maybe she just doesn''t care much about her level."


    It''s true that I don''t care about my level at all, but I''m still on the leaderboards¡­...I wonder why this happens to me? Is it because of the impenetrable protagonist armor? It is, isn''t it?


    "Oh, that''s too bad then. We can friend each other though, my username is Pika in the game as well! Anyways, it''s nice to meet you, Yuri! My full name is Katayo Pikachi, please take care of me!"


    Pikachu female version!?!?


    I gotta dig deeper into this.


    "It''s nice to meet you. Are you by chance a lightning mage in Sapphire?"


    "Yeah, bingo! How''d you guess?" She cheered while giving me an enthusiastic thumbs up.


    "Uh, I was just lucky."


    ¡­...P-pikachu¡­..that''s just so cute.


    I need to try and get some yellow clothes for her in the game somehow, I wonder if NPCs can make them. I should ask Abest next time I log in.


    "Well then, Sis, Pika and I will go greet father and big bro. I think they got back just now, feel free to continue training, we won''t disturb you any longer. Pika will be staying for dinner so we can all go out and eat today."


    Toku¡­...I wish you''ll get married and that I''ll get Pika as a little sister. Although I might be getting ahead of myself, I can still hope. She''s just so cute.


    "Alright then, I''ll see you both later. I''ll wrap up my training and maybe jump into Sapphire, notify me when we''re gonna head out okay?"


    With a cool nod of his head, Toku herded Pika out of the dojo and started walking back towards the house while jokingly bickering with her.


    Hm¡­...well that didn''t go as I expected, but I guess this is fine as well. They''re a good couple.


    But honestly¡­..Pika described Lynx as some type overpowered mysterious assassin or something like a hitman. Is it really how other players see me as?


    I guess I am getting a bit carried away in the game though.


    I swear if this keeps on going, soon I''m going to start wearing an eye-patch over my left eye while yelling about sealing my left arm.


    Or even worse, I''ll go down the ninja route and start throwing knives at people while dressed in full black and disappearing with silent footsteps into the forest.


    ¡­


    Wait a second, I''m already doing that.


    ¡­


    Time to do a quick check on my mental state and sanity levels.

 29 Oath Contract......2.0!

    "So you''re the top ranker Lynx, the rumored Humming Slayer, and the Mysterious Shadow? The one that ruthlessly kills everyone in sight and doesn''t use skills? THAT Lynx?"


    "Mhm, surprised?"


    "Not really? I just expected something more¡­...dark. You seem pretty normal to me."


    "HAH! Hear that Sia? I am normal after all!"


    "....Tania, wanna look at her more closely?"


    "U-Uh¡­...but she really does look normal, she acts¡­.normal as well?"


    Tania is so kind....I love you now.


    Oh, as for what I''m doing right now....I''m meeting Tania at a restaurant in a private booth with Sia! I didn''t feel like hiding my identity any longer and Tania can''t tell anyone anyways.


    Cough, because we are bad people and we decided to threaten her.


    Yeah, I''m starting to sound like a bad guy now, huh?


    Whatever, nothing I can do about it, this is the most efficient way after all! But just in case, I''ll try to get on her good side.


    "Anyways, Tania, I have a proposal for you."


    The tomboy mage turned and looked hopefully towards me with her amber eyes glimmering.


    "You have a long history of pickpocketing and shoplifting am I right? I''m willing to use my connections in the real world to erase all evidence of your crimes, but only if you sign a contract with me."


    As for if I''m bluffing or not....I''m not.


    I really do have multiple connections that can easily pardon Tania with a simple phone call.


    I know right, I''m just a mysterious girl.


    "R-really?! You''re not lying right?!" She yelled with disbelief and she tightly grasped my hands.


    Uh, no, if you think logically there''s really no point to lying about this¡­..


    "I''m absolutely telling the truth. This is the contract, simple right?" I warmly said before calmly handing her the same contract that Sia had signed. "Sia has already signed it¡­...for her own reasons."


    "Y-you even got the ''Black Meister'' to sign this contract....truly amazing indeed¡­."


    Pfffft!? What type of name is ''Black Meister''?! Hah! It''s even worse than mine, it sounds so cringy!


    I looked at Sia with a ridiculous expression. Too bad for you, sucker!


    Ah, she rolled her eyes at me....


    I guess I deserved it though. After all, I do make her do some pretty dark stuff for me sometimes¡­..and I''ve never asked how she managed to do them.


    While I was stuck in my inner monologue, Tania signed the Oath Contract without a sliver of hesitation and handed it back to me.


    "Huh? You really signed it so easily?" I incredulously asked.


    She tilted her head and looked at me as if it were obvious.


    "Well, of course, it''s just a game. Also, Lyssia looks perfectly happy working for you so I suppose you don''t make her do anything terrible."


    That''s true. I''m a really nice master huh.


    "Okay then, welcome to the team! I''ll give you guys five of these scrolls each, it teleports you to my private property, it can become our headquarters for now. Feel free to use anything that you find there as you wish." I nonchalantly stated, handing both of them my teleport scrolls.


    Sia and Tania both froze and stared at them with wide eyes.


    "....Yuri, you already have a property¡­..? And tons of teleport scrolls?!?!" She shouted while snatching them from me and inspecting them hysterically.


    How rude. Tsk tsk.


    ".....So this is who I will be serving. It''s an honor, master."


    ¡­..Tania¡­...no please, you''re making me shake with pure cringe levels.


    "J-just call me Yuri as well. Please." I begged while trying to suppress my shaking.


    Unfortunately for me, Tania didn''t budge no matter how much I tried to bribe her.


    "No way! I love role-playing, so I''ll be calling you master for now!"


    "Please no in public though okay!?! I can''t take that!"


    "Ha¡­...fine fine, whatever you say, master."


    ¡­.


    I''m dying.


    But whatever, I''ll deal with it somehow, it''s worth it if I get myself another lackey!


    Or, er, friend.


    Yes, a friend.


    Well, I guess I''ll do what I promised and whip Tania''s criminal record. Should be relatively easy if I just pull in a few favors here and there¡­..


    Oh yeah! Ryan should be perfect for this job, he''s a professional hacker after all. Getting him to do it would save money and trouble.


    I bet I can get to him through Eugene, but then I would have to contact Eugene first...


    Ugh¡­...this is gonna be more troublesome than I thought. How bothersome.


    Suddenly, my Yuka persona got a message from someone no registered as my friend.


    Excusing myself from the two chatting girls, I quietly opened up my tab and noticed the username of the messenger.


    Oh speak of the devil, it''s Eugene.


    Tsk, he must have got my username through Pink, dammit. But I guess that is better for me, makes it easier to ask him to give me Ryan''s contact information without making face-to-face contact.


    ---Yuri!!!!!! It''s been too long since I last saw you, wanna come to my party tomorrow?!


    ...¡­..


    Oh no, it''s probably one of those rich people parties that I hate.


    Let''s ignore that for now.


    ---Tell me Ryan''s contact information


    ---What?! Are you meeting up with him?! Are you dating him?! How far have you two gone?!


    ...¡­...I wanna kill this guy.


    ---Shut up and just tell me


    ---Ehhhhh?! You''re gonna make me cry....fine. I''ll tell you if you come to my party!


    ¡­..You stupid damn son of a politician.


    But I really need this contact information¡­...getting someone else to do it would be too risky.


    GuhhhhhHHHHHH¡­...I hate stupid social parties, I don''t get the point to them! It''s a perfect waste of time, the food isn''t even that good since no one bothers to eat it. And even worse, it''s Eugene''s party¡­..


    But what choice do I have, he''s too stubborn when it comes to this type of stuff.


    ---Tsk, fine. Send me the details of the party, I''ll go with Toku and Kai. You better give me the contact information after this though.


    ---Yes yes! I''ll make sure that you enjoy the party, it will be spectacular!


    ¡­.I''m regretting it already.


    Oh, I got a message from Toku now.


    Man, I''m really popular this evening huh.


    ---Sis, it''s time to go eat dinner. We leave in half an hour.


    Okay! Just in time, I''m pretty hungry.


    "I have to go eat dinner with some people now, message me if you need anything. I''ll give you guys my private phone number." I calmly stated and handed both of the girls a slip of paper. "I''ll be heading out then."


    Waving goodbye to Sia and Tania, I promptly logged out of the game.


    It''s been so long since I ate out for dinner, I''m looking forward to it!

 30 I donst know whats happening anymore.

    Couples. Need. To. Just. Get. A. Room.


    Please. I''m begging you.


    Seriously, flirting during dinner is ruining my appetite. Also, Kai and father¡­...please stop talking about work for once, I feel like our family already has enough money to last at least two generations of NEETs.


    I don''t know if I can take it anymore. The food is delicious but the atmosphere is killing me.


    Ahem, time to excuse myself from the room¡­..


    "I''ll be getting some fresh air for a few minutes, feel free to keep eating without me." I stated before putting down my chopsticks and leaving the private room.


    Gotta keep my expression blank or some nasty misunderstandings might come up. Trust me, misunderstandings are really scary and proficient when it comes to breaking up relationships. Hope Pika doesn''t think I''m being rude or anything¡­..that would suck.


    Lost in my own thoughts, I mindlessly wandered out the front of the fancy restaurant and into the dimly lit parking lot.


    I guess it''s pretty dangerous for a high school girl to walk around alone at night but¡­...for some reason I really don''t feel like I''m in danger anymore these days. Must be because of the extra training.


    But man, the cool air really does help to cool down my nerves. I can feel myself calming down already. The stars, breeze, and cigarette smoke¡­..wait what.


    Curiously turning my head towards the direction of the smoke, I spotted a lone man dressed in a fancy suit leaning against a lamp pole just a few feet away from me.


    Uwahhhhhh¡­...the heck is this supposed to be, some spy movie?


    Oh crap, we made eye contact.


    Well, I guess I''ll just head back inside now¡­..


    Suddenly feeling movement behind me, I instinctively dodged to the side.


    The guy threw his cigarette at me! The hell man? Did your parents only remember to buy you nice clothes and not teach you some manners?!


    I furiously glared at the annoying man who was now darkly sneering at me.


    Eh? He looks like Kai''s age, does this society not have decent adults anymore? I haven''t met any so far, that''s for sure.


    "What''s a pampered girl like you doing out in the dark all alone hm? You run away from Daddy when he didn''t give you your allowance?"


    ¡­...dude¡­...I could say the same for you¡­...at least I''m not looking like a sketchy person that walked straight out of some drama.


    "Cat got your tongue miss? I bet you didn''t realize that this world isn''t as bright and shiny as you thought it was right? Don''t worry, I''ve been through it too." He confidently stated after misunderstanding my silence.


    Hey, I definitely know how dark and horrifying this world can be. Also, is there a reason he''s wearing sunglasses at night?


    Although I didn''t dare say it out loud, that would just make things more complicated. I''m a pacifist you know~.


    "Hey but you know what girl? I''m willing to take you under my wing and give you a bit of cash for a favor. What do you say? A chance of a lifetime! Your looks are perfect, I doubt it would be hard for you to¡­..complete a small task."


    ¡­.


    Uh, do I look like an idiot?


    Is this scene not cliche enough that you just had to make it even more ridiculous?


    Do you think you''re being COOL or something?


    Hell no, I really don''t need money at all right now. In fact, you might even say that I have too much to know what to do with it.


    Having a father that owns the company which released the world''s first VR game makes you quite wealthy, just saying.


    You know what, I''m just gonna keep walking¡­..


    Oh! He looks annoyed now, you deserve it you wannabe gangster.


    "Tch, bitch you wanna die? If you don''t come with me I''ll use force!" He growled while whipping a switch knife out of his front pocket.


    Dude, that dangerous and pointy. Also, why do people tend to think growling makes males more alluring? This guy''s growling makes me wanna call pest control. I don''t get it at all¡­..


    Seeing me ignore his threat must have made him blow up because he''s now acting like an anime character and yelling while swinging a knife at me.


    I think he''s hyperventilating.


    Seeing that he was drawing too close for comfort, I quickly evaded his wild swing and then dodged a stab.


    Now I understand what people mean when they say crazy people are the most dangerous.


    This guy is pretty hard to predict¡­.


    Yikes. That one was too close. Time to go on the offensive then.


    The man stabbed out at me but I caught his wrist. Fluidly twisting his hand behind his back, I disarmed him and closed the switch knife.


    Ugh, he''s still struggling...


    I mercilessly stomped down on the back of his leg and he crumpled to the cold pavement.


    Great. Now, what am I supposed to do with this guy?


    ...


    Oh what a coincidence, I found his car keys in his pocket! Pretty expensive car¡­..I guess I''ll just leave him in there for now.


    Just as I was walking back to the restaurant, another man came up to me.


    Gosh, I''m so popular today. Ah, at least he''s in a white suit this time. Pretty good looking, to be honest with you.


    With a confident aura, a sneer, a sharp glint in his eye, and spiky blonde hair, the new guy was a walking textbook yakuza.


    "Good evening ma''am. I''m sorry that my lackey was bothering you on this fine evening, I''ll make sure he doesn''t disturb you ever again." He politely said while rapping his knuckles against the car''s window.


    Well, since this one is polite I guess I''ll hear him out.


    "It''s no problem, no big deal," I responded while matching his tone. "I was in need of some exercise after dinner."


    The blonde''s eyebrows perked up in interest.


    "My my, I did see that indeed. Your fighting prowess is mind-blowing for such a young girl, isn''t that right, Yuri Mizuki?"


    Hmmmmm...


    "I can''t take the credit, it''s because of having an amazing instructor. You must be the rumored ''Bishop'' in the Yakuza community, right? You sure know a lot." I calmly stated while looking him up and down.


    "Heh! You''re still just in high school but you can stay calm in these situations, you''re reputation truly exceeds you." He said in awe.


    ¡­...I have a reputation among the yakuza? Since when...


    "You know, ''Joker'' has been spreading the word of your deeds ever since you saved him from the government officials. Everyone in the Yakuza wants to see how amazing you really are now."


    ¡­...when¡­..?


    Wait, now that I think about it¡­...I did save some weirdo who was running around downtown once. He was yakuza? If I knew that then I wouldn''t have bothered¡­.


    "But I''m just here to give you a warning you know, our boss is REALLY interested in you. You''re his exact type, and he''s dangerous okay? I swear when I see his expression when he''s talking about you¡­..gives me the shivers."


    What have I become in the yakuza that they casually talk about me?!?!


    "Anyways, since you look like you already know all this stuff I''ll just be going now. You''re really amazing, usually, most people would be freaking out or something."


    Oh, I''m freaking out my friend, I just don''t have a habit of expressing myself.


    Before I could say anything though, the man walked away with a wave of his hand.


    Well, that was interesting. Why do I feel like my life is getting more and more complicated¡­.?


    I don''t know what''s happening anymore.


    I guess I''ll go in and finally finish my dinner then.

 31 Transfer Students.....and a limo.

    Walking back into the private box, I noted that the lovey-dovey atmosphere between Toku and Pika had finally calmed down a bit. My entry attracted the attention of all four people and their heads turned from the food.


    "Hey sis, you look like you met yakuza or something." Toku uncannily guessed while taking in my confused state.


    My little brother is freaking me out, it''s as if he knew everything that happened or something.


    "Hmmmm¡­..yeah, I met two of them out in the parking lot," I confirmed. "One was being really annoying so I beat him up, the other one was pretty polite though."


    The room froze, except for my father. Did time stop for us? It''s as if he''s the only one moving...


    "Yuri, you''re just like your mother. Trouble just loves you." My father said as if expecting something happening to me. "Hah¡­..reminds me of when I first met her¡­..she was being chased by the mafia and the yakuza at the same time! I fell in love instantly, she was so cool."


    ¡­


    My father has some¡­...weird tastes.


    But at least I now know why my mother consistently urged me to learn karate and kendo with her while I was only six. I always thought that it was a bit weird.


    Toku finally gathered his thoughts and lowered his chopsticks to his bowl before nodding his head.


    "Yup yup. Just another day for my big sis, nothing to be surprised about. Here Pika, this fish is really good." He robotically spoke as he forcefully added food into his girlfriend''s bowl.


    H-hey Toku, Pika''s still frozen¡­..with her chopsticks halfway to her mouth.


    Oh crap, I feel a dark aura coming from Kai¡­...let''s not look his direction for now¡­..


    "Anyways¡­...it''s not a big deal yeah? Let''s get on with dinner, there''s still school tomorrow." I hesitantly stated, trying to ease the tension a bit.


    Thankfully, everything slowly went back to being normal after a while. Toku walked Pika back to her house with a happy grin while holding her hand.


    Man, so cute. Youth at its finest huh.


    The rest of us simply went straight home and jumped in our beds to go to sleep. Today was a pretty tiring one after all.


    Hope nothing goes wrong at school tomorrow...


    __________


    ____


    _


    "I''ll be leaving then!" I cheerfully shouted into the kitchen before hopping on my bike and rapidly pedaling to school.


    Ah.....I simply hate Mondays, they''re so depressing. Most kids my age would probably be squirming and gushing on about enjoying their ''high school'' life but¡­..that''s not really my thing. I don''t want to go to high school in the first place. If it wasn''t for my dad''s constant hounding, I would be at home playing Sapphire or getting an interesting job somewhere. It''s not like I need to money, but I''ve always wondered what working would feel like. It can''t be that hard right? I know some people my age who are already running their own businesses, but I suppose it''s because they aren''t really normal people. Take Eugene for example¡­...what a crazy guy. Those yakuza looked only a few years older than me as well¡­..


    A flash of confusion suddenly passed through my brain. Wait what? The so-called yakuza yesterday looked as if they were in college! That doesn''t make much sense¡­.


    Unless they aren''t ''yakuza'' in the first place.


    Pieces of the puzzle clicked together in my head as I rationally thought everything over.


    Hah. I understand what''s happening now. If I''m correct, those people weren''t yakuza at all.


    I dryly grinned. Well, that''s fine, now that I know what they are up to I can be alert ahead of time.


    The school came into my sight as I took a sharp turn. My thoughts slowly drifted back to the new transfer students that were going to be introduced into my class.


    Oh crap, don''t I have a party to attend this evening?!?!


    Uwaaaaaaa...¡­..I''m so screwed...¡­


    You know what, I don''t care anymore. I''m just gonna walk in wearing casual clothes and walk right out after the main event. Eugene better not be expecting more because I won''t be giving him any. I don''t have time to care about him anyways, what happens¡­..happens.


    With that thought, I locked up my bike and strode into the school. Casually ignoring the shrieking girls and the fancy black limousine that was parked in the front...


    ¡­...WHY THE HECK WOULD YOU COME TO SCHOOL IN A LIMO?!


    Is someone lacking some common sense? Dude, I know this is the country''s most prestigious school, but even this is too overboard. I''ve just gotten used to the sports cars and now you''re bringing in a red carpet and some butlers.


    I should ask dad if I can transfer.


    Briskly jogging into my class fifteen minutes before homeroom, I barely had enough time to wipe clean my desk and prepare for class. On the bright side, since new people were coming to school, nobody bothered with me.


    You know, sometimes I forget I actually get bullied. When did that start again? I wonder why I haven''t bothered to stop them....oh, I remember now.


    Just as I was about to go down memory lane, my thoughts were interrupted by the homeroom teacher who loudly slammed her hand against the blackboard.


    ¡­...This is a prestigious school, right?


    "Listen up kids! We have two new students today," She noisily yelled while gesturing to someone in the hall. "Please give them your whole-hearted attention!"


    On cue, two students walked into the class.


    The faces of every single person immediately reddened. Why? Well of course that''s because the new students are too good looking for their own good.


    Seriously though, Eugene grew up pretty well. He''s now half a head taller than me, glimmering blonde hair that is way too bright, sky-blue eyes and a smile that really needs to be banned. Hell, he even looks super fit and his uniform is ironed perfectly.


    Not that the girl standing next to him is any worse.


    Long silky black hair, gentle brown eyes, cute nose, rosy lips, kind smile¡­..definitely a beauty among....beauties, I guess.


    Hey, do I know this girl from somewhere? My memory seems to be getting worse these days.


    "It''s my pleasure to join this class. My name is Eugene Franco, I''m from America. I''ve come to Japan to find an important friend of mine and make new ones, so please feel free to become friends with me! Calling me Eugene is fine, I''m not quite used to Japanese honorifics yet." Eugene confidently introduced with overflowing charisma.


    His level is almost as high as Kai, that''s terrifying.


    After his charming introduction, the girl next to him started speaking.


    "My name is Matayoshi Tora, and yes I''m the daughter of the current Prime Minister of Japan. In Sapphire, my username is Tomoe, it''s a pleasure to be working with you this year. Oh, the limo at the front was mine. I just gave Eugene a ride since he was walking. Please don''t create any misunderstandings okay?"


    ¡­


    Ah, so it''s the stubborn girl that I saved in chapter seven. No wonder. I really hope she doesn''t recognize me¡­...it was a mistake to show her my face, even though I was really annoyed at that time.


    Ha....I wish Sia was in my class, sadly she''s in class B. But I have a nagging feeling that she already knows what''s happening. She can be weirdly knowledgeable sometimes.


    Before the noise level in the room rose too high, the homeroom teacher quickly shut everyone up with a quick bark.


    "Alright, you kids. Make sure to welcome them after class. Eugene, Matayoshi-san, both of you may use the empty seats in the back. Next to Mizuki over there." She annoyingly muttered and pointed at me.


    All heads immediately turned to stare at me. Some were hostile while some were neutral. I even felt one of two that seemed to want to flay me alive.


    ¡­..Teacher, screw you. I really didn''t need this attention, I managed to sit unnoticed as well¡­..


    Eugene''s eyes met mine and instantly brightened. Completely ignoring the homeroom teacher, he ran up to me and held my hands in his.


    "*Yuri! It''s been such a long time, you''ve gotten so lovely!*"


    ¡­.The misunderstandings in the class are starting up. I bet they could only understand the ''lovely'' part that was said in English¡­..


    "*Please let go of my hands Eugene.*"


    Oh crap, more misunderstandings¡­.


    "*Ahhh! Hearing your voice makes me cry tears of joy!*" He sobbed while tears streamed down his much too handsome face.


    And the misunderstandings grow~


    Hearing some muttering from the girls sitting in front of me, my ears perked up to listen to the gossip.


    "Did you see that?! Eugene-sama fell in love with that slut on sight and was rejected! He''s even crying tears of pain¡­..poor transfer student¡­."


    "Tch, that bitch needs to learn her place. Stop seducing every good-looking guy you see, stupid trash."


    "What a slut, we should teach her a lesson later."


    Ah...¡­...it''s been a long time since I''ve been called that, looks like the nickname is back again. That''s too bad.


    Now, how am I supposed to deal with this crying mess in front of me? The teacher isn''t willing to meet my eyes, useless adults are the worst. Do your job!


    I guess I''ll just have to make Eugene let go.


    "*Hey you, let go of me and listen to the teacher or else I''ll ignore you for a month.*"


    Why did I say it in English? I hope it made things better instead or worse, but judging by the way he reacts¡­..


    "*Yes, ma''am! I''ll be going then, thank you for your orders!*"


    Oi oi, don''t you think that a perfect military salute is overdoing things?! Go and sit next to the befuddled Tomoe, she''s looking at you awkwardly!


    Or maybe looking at me, I can''t tell. I really hope not though.


    My eyes want to twitch, but luckily I''m a master at theater arts. Just gotta get through the day¡­


    It''s lunchtime!


    Jumping up from my seat and quickly packing up all my items, I dashed out the classroom and headed straight for the stairway leading to the rooftop. I preferred elevators since I didn''t have a good history with stairs but¡­..there was no choice, I wouldn''t exactly be welcomed in an elevator.


    I know right, this school has elevators. Talk about unnecessary. But I like them.

 32 Annoyed.

    Ha¡­..eating lunch alone is just bliss~!


    Watching all the other students walk around below makes me feel like they have nothing to do with me. I can easily squish them....


    Wait second¡­..I''m starting to sound like some villain.


    There''s no way right? All I do is kill people all day in Sapphire¡­...and hire people to hack criminal records.....and enslave people....a-and get information through bribes¡­.


    Damn. I accidentally became a villain. Well that''s funny.


    Still amusing myself with my thoughts, I suddenly sensed a presence coming towards the roof. Looks like I''m gonna be getting a visitor.


    The unexpected guest burst through the unlocked door and scanned the roof until his blue eyes fell on me.


    "*YURIIIIII!!!!! I''VE BEEN LOOKING EVERYWHERE! You don''t understand how hard it was for me to lose those shrieking girls, I was creeped out by them. Are all girls in this school like that?*" Eugene yelled while dashing towards me.


    "Uh, no. Only when you make a much too fancy appearance like you and Tomoe. If you want less attention, you can always get plastic surgery."


    Eugene didn''t flinch at my words.


    "*Ahhhh¡­..it''s so nice hearing you diss me again. It''s been much too long, just think about all the flattery and brown-nosing I had to put up with just to meet you. I might get nightmares soon.*"


    "..."


    "Anyways! It sure was hard to find your school, thankfully your father is my dad''s friend or else I might have never found you!"


    Screw you dad.


    "*What are you doing up here Yuri? Shouldn''t you be ruling the school or thrashing some bullies as you did before? Why did so many people sound like they wanted to kill you, did you go and do something again? Are you having trouble getting people to listen, want my help?*"


    Too many questions man, way too many. I guess he doesn''t know about the bullying yet. Now that I think about it¡­...I really did have quite an attitude back in America. What a child I was¡­..


    "*Hey Yuri wanna join my guild in Sapphire?! No wait, you should become the leader. I''m only worthy of being your servant after all. You realized the source of the guild name right?! Mizanco, a ship between Mizuki and Franco!*"


    My god, please shut up and let me eat my lunch.....for some reason he only acts like this when he''s with me....


    "Hey Franco-san, shut up." I sharply retorted before turning back to my lunch. "You''re ruining the peace and quiet."


    "...F-franco-san!?"


    I should find another roof to eat lunch soon.


    "Yes, your name is Eugene Franco is it not? It would be rude for me to address a simple acquaintance casually by their first name no? This is Japan, not America. Introduce yourself properly next time. Also, speak Japanese, not English." I rebuked, my voice as cold as ice.


    Eugene stood there for a few seconds before a grin slowly crept onto his face.


    "Yuri! You''re finally back to normal, the old Yuri I know would never stay silent forever!" He cheered before running up and stretching out his arms.


    Uh, no hugs, please.


    I fluidly stepped to the side and evaded his overly enthusiastic charge. Not intending to give up, he turned around and dashed at me once again. Soon, it turned into a high-speed game of tag.


    Oh man, I''m actually working up a sweat! Eugene''s speed has improved once again, he''s almost caught up with me...


    "Huff¡­..Boss¡­..your speed is beyond normal now¡­..I can''t believe I still can''t catch up even after ten years of hard training..." Eugene tiredly sighed from the floor.


    "Hmmm¡­...honestly, I''m getting quite the workout, your speed is not bad at all."


    Eugene''s eyes sparkled and looked at me as if that compliment was his lifeline.


    Huh. I think his problem has gotten even worse after ten years¡­...but whenever I brought it up with the rest of the group back then, they just laughed and said something about a yuri syndrome¡­..I wonder if it''s contagious?


    I suddenly sensed a familiar presence steadily walking up to the roof. Apparently Eugene also sensed it, he immediately stood up straight and fixed is crumbled clothes.


    The door creaked open and I saw Sia standing on the other side looking at me with an exasperated expression. Her gaze temporarily flitted over Eugene before completely ignoring his existence.


    As expected of Sia, her male tolerance is at the same level as me!


    Eugene seemed pretty surprised and gained a better impression of her. But for some reason the look in his eyes doesn''t exactly look safe¡­...it''s like he found a new member to recruit for a club or something.


    "Oh, so you had company after all, Yuri. I guess he''s the one that disabled all the cameras I set up here. Well, don''t mind me, I''m just going to be reactivating them and then I''ll leave¡­.." Sia tiredly explained to us as she went to the corner and started meddling with a smartly camouflaged micro cam.


    The heck, when did he have time to do that....ah, he must have used a remote jammer.


    "Ho¡­..? So it was you who placed that there, how interesting. You must be from class¡­...2-B, am I correct?" Eugene said while flashing Sia his best smile.


    Sia didn''t look like she even noticed.


    "Mhm."


    "Well¡­..how do you feel about dinner with me? I have a party this evening and I would be honored if you could participate¡­.."


    "Hm. No thanks."


    Yeahhhhh! Sia, you have exceeded my expectations once again! It''s not every day where you see a girl reject a Rich Prince Charming.


    "Well, Yuri will be com-"


    "Ah yeah, Sia, I want access to your cameras as well." I interrupted Eugene who was in the middle of talking. "Franco-san, although everyone at school called me Yuri. I won''t allow you to do that same. Mizuki-san is fine, but I would prefer if you just didn''t talk to me at all."


    Ehhh....Sia is gazing at me with awe in her eyes¡­.I''m pretty sure she can manage to do the same though.


    Eugene turned towards me with his face twitching.


    "L-look here Yuri-"


    "Mizuki-san"


    "Yu-"


    "Mi-zu-ki-san."


    "...Look, Mizuki-san, I''m just trying to invite this beautiful lady to my evening party! Will you not interrupt us?"


    Sia is cringing behind you. Actually, she looks like she''s gonna be sick¡­..h-hang in there Sia, I''ll try and chase this guy away soon.


    "*Mr. Franco, if you don''t scram soon, I''ll personally crash your party, ruin your public image, take over your business, and make your father disown you. I still do have a lot of influence among the Drifters after all.*" I threatened in English so that Sia wouldn''t pick up on more information then she needed.


    Eugene immediately disappeared from the roof. He knew that I wasn''t bluffing. At least he knows what''s good for him. Should I explain to Sia what I said¡­...nah, too lazy.


    "Y-yuri¡­...what did you do...."


    "Cough, nothing at all. Just threatened him with some stuff¡­."


    "Oh, you knew him?"


    "Y-yeah¡­...from a few years ago."


    "Hmmmmm¡­.it''s true that I can''t seem to find any information on you before you moved here from America. It must have been hidden quite well by a professional hacker. No, a hacker genius that even my hacker couldn''t beat. The only piece of information I could find was¡­...well, the piece I used to get people to start bullying you¡­.."


    Oh. I didn''t know about that, Ryan must have done it when I left. I guess he didn''t want to inconvenience me¡­...but he didn''t know the reason I moved either so it''s no wonder that he didn''t cover it up.


    But how the heck did Sia find it? I guess that remains a mystery until she tells me, I won''t ask, there''s really no need to know.


    "Well yeah, let''s just say Euge was a childhood friend of mine."


    "So you aren''t calling him by his last name now that he''s gone? And you''re the one calling me a tsundere?"


    "Those are separate matters. He''s just really annoying sometimes."


    Sia looked over from her corner and pouted after noticing that I had no change in expression.


    Hah. You can''t make me flustered with just that. Try again in a few years!


    "Anyways, you''re going to Franco-san''s party, right? Do you want me to go as well?" She deftly changed the topic while putting back the camera and standing up.


    "Nah, I''m good. I''m just going to peek in and get out."


    "....What are you going to wear?''


    "What I''m wearing now."


    Oh, Sia has finally facepalmed. Well that''s a first.


    ---------------------------


    P.E. class is great....but can I please just go home and play some Sapphire already? I don''t see why I need to learn how to be physical, it''s a waste of my time.....it''s during last period too.


    But I guess all the other shrieking girls are loving it right now, Eugene is in the class after all....and he''s very athletic.


    Even though all we''re doing is running. Do you girls really need to make so much noise over someone running? I don''t understand at all...


    "Anyone that finishes in less than five minutes can be dismissed! Hurry up you slowpokes!" The gruff teacher howled through a paper tube before lazily checking his watch.


    Ugh. This ''prestigious'' school needs to get some new teachers.


    But hey, I''m getting the heck out of here. Early dismissal is the best. I''m not even tired after all¡­..this amount of exercise is nothing compared to my own training regime. I guess I''ll actually run the last two laps.


    I picked up my slow jogging pace and charged forwards with a run that was only a tiny bit faster than an average girl''s sprint. I finished a full lap in a minute and quickly started on my last.


    As long as I don''t attract unneeded attention I should be fine, that''s the only reason I''m not sprinting right now.


    But for some reason the P.E. teacher is still looking at me weirdly. Is it because no girls in my class run? Yeah, he must think it''s weird that a girl is actually running for once. Whatever. The boys are too busy whispering about something to even care.


    Just as I was halfway through my final lap, I felt someone draw closer to me. And his presence was a very annoying one.


    "Yuri! Why are you running so slow, is this really your full speed? Or are you just holding back?" Eugene curiously asked while easily keeping pace with me.


    "Mhm. There''s no need for me to attract attention." I responded without losing breath.


    He stared at me silently. Did I manage to make him shut up for once?


    "...still dense as ever...." He muttered under his breath as he tiredly rubbed his eyebrows.


    Hm?


    I didn''t catch most of what he said, but he looks pretty tired. Is he still suffering from jetlag or something? Maybe, it''s a possibility.


    Ignoring his incomprehensible muttering, I easily finished my lap with four minutes to spare. Wanting to leave, I nonchalantly nodded at the teacher who, for some reason, was very pale. He stiffly nodded back with a madly twitching smile.


    Hm¡­...I wonder if something is bothering him? Must be the boys who are oddly slacking today, usually they run at full speed to try and show off to the girls.


    Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting.


    Now that I think about it, the entire class has been acting weirdly today. I knew that Eugene would cause trouble¡­...but it''s none of my business.


    Alright! Time to head home and explore Sapphire a bit more, and hopefully level up!


    Changing my clothes at a speed that was definitely not normal, I took my school bag and ran out of the change room.


    Only to find Eugene running out at the same time.


    ....Why is he looking at me as if I''m an extinct animal?


    "Y-yuri¡­.you have become even more preposterous after you left!? You need to act more like a girl, what girl changes so quickly?!?!? And I thought I was fast¡­..."


    ¡­..Excuse me? I know my girl power isn''t really high, but telling me to act like a girl¡­...now that''s just rude. Looks like he forgot his manners in just ten years.


    Ah, but I don''t have time for this, I want to hurry up and play my game!


    Ignoring the gaping Eugene, I sprinted across the empty campus and towards the back wall. All the other classes were still in session since I had been dismissed ten minutes early.


    Expertly vaulting over the wall with experienced movements, I ditched the shocked Eugene and quickly headed home.


    "I''m home!" I announced to the empty house before directly heading to my room.


    This house is really too big for just a family of four. I wish that it was a bit smaller...


    Taking off my uniform, I started changing into my usual black hoodie and sweatpants.


    "Yo! Yuri, you got back fast!" An annoying voice suddenly said from the hallway. "But maybe this is normal for you beca-"


    Eugene froze in the middle of his sentence as he stared into my room.


    ....I''m in the middle of changing. And why the heck are you at my house anyways...


    Just as I was about to rebuke him, he promptly smashed his face into the ground and jumped into a kowtow.


    "I am so sorry. If Ryan and Jack found out about this I would be flayed alive. Forgive me. Take my helicopter, take my car, take my computer." He monotonously ranted while rubbing his forehead against the floorboards. "-take my car, take my keys, take my other car-..."


    ¡­


    Uwaaaaaa....what do girls see in this guy¡­...so creepy¡­..


    I quickly finished changing and cautiously walked around Eugene. Heading into the kitchen to make myself a small snack, I turned around only to find him still in the exact same position and muttering something under his breath.


    "Whatever, I don''t really care, it wasn''t as if I was naked or anything. I''ll come to your party tonight so hurry up and give me Ryan''s contact information." I sighed as I finished eating the apple I had cut. "But you better not expect me to be all fancy and formal, I''m peeking my head in and then leaving."


    Eugene jumped up and rapidly nodded his head.


    "Sure sure! Whatever you say, Boss! I''ll send it to you in Sapphire, can we meet up?"


    ¡­..I think I''m getting scammed, now I need to meet with him in the game as well?


    Ah, but I don''t really care anymore....I''m too tired of this¡­..


    "Fine, whatever, you can use the spare capsule we have. Why are you at my house in the first place?"


    "I''m moving here."


    "Oh, I se-"


    Wait, what?


    Dad, what the heck are you thinking, letting this guy live here?!


    "...For how long."


    Eugene tilted his head and seemed to be in deep thought.


    "Hmmm¡­...I''ll leave as soon as my apartment buildings are finished construction!"


    ....BLOODY HELL? YOU JUST MOVED HERE AND YOU''RE ALREADY CREATING APARTMENTS?


    "..."


    "Oh yeah! It''s gonna be really extravagant and modern, many wealthy people are already putting down offers for floors."


    "..."


    "I can give you an entire building if you want, it''s not like I need money."


    "Hey, you can go die."


    "WHAT?!"


    Ignoring his shocked expression, I walked towards the capsule room.


    This boy lacks common sense, perhaps this is what he gets for being a genius.


    I pointed to a capsule located in the corner of the room and gestured to Eugene.


    "That one can be yours, it''s the brand new not-yet-released model so it should be good enough for you."


    I didn''t wait for his response and sat in my capsule.


    Ha...¡­.I''m really annoyed right now, I need to take out some of my stress on killing some monsters. Maybe I''ll try to go into the level 20 mountain range and see how I prevail!

 33 Introductions!

    I logged into the game and spawned in my cozy cabin. In the corner, I noticed Sia and Tania''s extra items stored away with my spare arrows. A few teleport scrolls were also gone, so I guessed that they took them to use. Opening my menu, I confirmed the meeting place that Eugene had sent me and promptly teleported back to Zircon.


    The first words I heard once I appeared made me unconsciously flip up my hood.


    "Hey hey....isn''t that Lynx dropping down on the leaderboards? Looks like they weren''t so great after all."


    "What are you saying?! That maniac killed over two hundred PK players in a week and cleaned off the entire bounty list. If he isn''t great, I don''t know who is."


    "You brainless fan, you can''t see reality from fantasy. The only thing that matters is the leaderboard, if you aren''t on there, you aren''t great!"


    "Huhhhhh?! You wanna pick a fight you scumbag? If I say Lynx is great then he is! You better not slander my idol!"


    "What a retard. Your mother is great! I''ll give you the fight you want, come at me!"


    "$%@*#(%?!?"


    Two men suddenly started a duel right in front of my face. If there was anything to add, I would say that their language usage was very colorful! I tugged the rim of my hood down and briskly walked past them.


    So I fell down in the leaderboards huh, I''m not sure if that''s good news of bad news. I guess it''s bad since people with higher levels can inspect me when I have my hood down¡­...but I don''t really care....so I''ll just ignore that for now!


    I strolled towards the bar at an easy pace. Just for safety, I equipped my mask and set the visibility off. Now Eugene would see me as Yuka, so having a lower level doesn''t matter at all!


    I''m a genius.


    Arriving at the meeting place, I stood in front of the city''s most expensive and fancy restaurant available.


    I guess I shouldn''t be surprised, Eugene is Eugene, whether in reality or not. I heard that a single private room here costs fifty gold, and each dish is at least one gold. The food doesn''t even give buffs or anything, it''s just expensive! Apparently you need to be wearing formal clothes to enter, but I don''t even know how to get ''formal'' clothes in this game. Maybe they sell it at some store nearby, I bet it''s pricey.


    Boldly striding into the building and towards the receptionist, I saw many curious NPCs glancing towards me.


    Ah¡­...that''s right, they can''t see my roles with my hood up. That''s good, I don''t need creepy people annoying me all the time.


    "Scuse me, I''m meeting someone here." I said to the lady standing behind the desk in a straightforward tone.


    She looked me up and down, it made me pretty uncomfortable. Noticing my tattered cloak, she furrowed her eyebrows and pointedly ignored my question.


    The heck, what type of reception is this. Well, I suppose it''s my fault for not being polite huh. I guess it''s been too long since I''ve talked nicely to someone¡­...I''ve gotten rusty.


    "Excuse me, ma''am, a friend of mine has invited me here. His name is Faraday, may I know his room?" I said with a gentle voice while pulling down my hood.


    Here, take my smile! I''ve practiced it in front of my mirror countless times. It has been trained to perfection! I''m even confident it won''t lose out to Eugene''s smile.


    I just don''t find myself in many situations where I need to smile in the first place...


    "...Y-yes, of course. You are the disciple of Master Abest after all, I''ll lead you myself." She stammered while staring at me with wide eyes.


    ¡­


    Hey, you aren''t moving.


    I waved my hand in front of her frozen face.


    "Ma''am? Are you quite alright, do you need assistance?" I worriedly asked.


    The receptionist''s face suddenly flushed red. Whipping her face around, she avoided my gaze and covered her face with her hands.


    "...Ma''am?"


    "YES??!!! I''m sorry!!! Of course!!!"


    "....No problem."


    This game confuses me sometimes. Is this NPC glitching?


    Following the stumbling lady, I was led into a large, expensively furnished room. There was a round table in the middle that could sit over ten people at once, yet there was only one lone figure.


    "Ah, Yuri! You''re finally here, and you''ve even managed to charm people while coming. As expected of my Boss." Eugene cheerfully exclaimed as his gaze landed on the receptionist. "You may go now miss, thank you very much for leading Boss here."


    He flashed his trademark smile and the lady blushed like crazy.


    Ha¡­...Eugene, do you really need to charm every woman you see? See, now she''s all flustered and weird.


    "N-no problem, please enjoy the food, honored guests." She bowed and flew out of the room.


    Hm? Eugene must also have a special role if she thought of him as an ''honored'' guest. I have to admit, I''m a little curious, but I won''t pry into small matters like this.


    Sitting down at the table and facing Eugene, I sighed and lazily leaned back.


    "Hurry up and give me the contact information, I''m really getting annoyed with your constant dodging."


    "Tut tut, don''t worry. I''ll send it to you immediately, patience is important Boss!" Eugene chuckled as his fingers danced on his invisible menu. "Alright, I''ve sent it over."


    I opened up my menu and saved the information that Eugene gave me. I made a mental note to ask Ryan to erase Tania''s criminal record tonight. Standing up, I got ready to leave.


    However, Eugene quickly stopped me. "Woah there! Relax Boss, I ordered some food already. Just ten dishes, I''ll even pay the bill, why not eat with me?"


    ....Free food....what to do...


    "I''ll order some drink as well, the best you can get in Zircon."


    "Deal."


    I can''t say no to free drinks! Especially since there aren''t a lot of chances to drink such high-grade beer!


    "Nice, I''ve invited a few friends over as well. I''ll introduce them to you!"


    YOU SUCK.


    I suffer from social anxiety, please no.


    "Ah, don''t worry. You can invite people too! I would love to meet your friends!"


    ¡­


    Alright! Sia, Tania, come save me.


    I messaged both of the girls and got instant replies. Both agreed and were already on their way over. Well, it''s not like they had a choice¡­...the contract was still intact after all. But they didn''t seem to oppose my invitation, it was a chance to eat the most expensive food in this city after all!


    After just a few minutes, both Sia and Tania entered the room with Pink and three other people which I guessed were Eugene''s friends. I gestured for both of them to sit next to me while Eugene did the same for his people. I noticed that all of them had Mizanco guild emblems on their chests, and they didn''t seem to be low ranked. Must all be elders or leaders.


    Heh, but I really didn''t expect Pink to get promoted so fast! He sure deserves a high rank though, his loyalty to his guild leader freaks me out.


    He seems pretty confused seeing me here though.


    A few seconds later, everyone was settled in their seats and an awkward air was created. Not that Eugene seemed to notice or care.


    "Now that we''re all here, why not introduce ourselves! Starting with Pink over there, go ahead."


    "A-ah of course!"


    Pink shot up from his chair and bowed deeply.


    "My name is Pink, I''m a thief and an elder in Mizanco. Level 6, my specialty is scouting. It''s very nice to meet you!"


    Sia and Tani both politely nodded their heads. The next person got up and started talking.


    "Saber, level 7, vice-guild leader, priest." A man with long black hair tied up in a ponytail said while slightly bowing.


    Hm. A man of few words, I like him already.


    Next up was a female with navy-blue hair and an intellectual demeanor surrounding her.


    "My username is Cynthiana, currently level 7. I''m a mage, but my specialty is water spells and speed casting. Um, some people call me the ''Water Maiden''.....but I really don''t like the title that much. It is my pleasure to meet you."


    Hmmmmm! Eugene got himself some nice fellows. A good variety, yes yes. They''re all really good looking though.


    "Tch, this is so lame. Listen up, I''m Diane, level 7 and a ranger. You individual players better not waste Sir Faraday''s time, you guys aren''t worth it!" The last blonde yelled out while slapping her palm on the table.


    Ugh, I don''t get along well with these types. Reminds me of how Sia acted before we cleared up the misunderstandings.


    I glanced over at her, she didn''t seem to react at all to Diane outburst. In fact, even Tania looked like she didn''t care. None of them even batted an eyelid!


    I have to say, I sure have a good eye for people.


    "Right, I''ll introduce myself as well!" Eugene announced as he started standing up from his seat.


    Diane immediately jumped up stopped him.


    "What?! Don''t waste your breath talking to these nameless people, I''ve never heard of these people, and two of them still level 4! I don''t understand why you invited them in the first place." She bellowed with spirit.


    Hm¡­...I guess Sia has been busy with other things if she didn''t have the time to grind. Although it''s fine, levels aren''t a big deal at this stage, she can probably easily catch up. There are more important things to do after all!


    While I was stuck in my thoughts, Eugene and Saber were calming down the enraged ranger.


    "Diane, it''s fine. Listen to the guild leader. Sit down."


    "Yeah, it''s not a big deal. It would be rude if I didn''t introduce myself to guests I''ve personally invited!"


    Man, this girl has quite the temper huh. But honestly¡­...I don''t care about introductions, I just want to drink, dammit. I don''t have the opportunities to do so in reality after all.


    "Ahem. I''m Faraday, guild leader of Mizanco, swordsman class. Feel free to call me whatever you want though! I''m currently ranking sixth on the leaderboards at level 8. I hope we will get along well!" He flashed a charming smile at Sia and Tania.


    Hm? I guess Lynx has already fallen from the leaderboards, I''m only level 6 after dying to Tyrant.


    Realizing that their side had finished their introductions, I gestured to Tania to stand up. She quickly stood and cleared her throat.


    "Err¡­.You can call me Matania, Tania, or Tan. I''m a mage that specializes in fire spells. I''m currently level 6 and part of East Wind mercenary group, nice to meet you!"


    Of course everyone understood how influential she was, basically everyone well informed knew about East Wind. Asterios is the leader after all, and he''s on the leaderboards! The group is said to be one of the most elite mercenary groups. All the individual players who didn''t want to join a guild would all look to join them.


    Diane looked to the side and clicked her tongue, the rest of Mizanco respectfully nodded their heads and smiled. Tania sat back down with a satisfied grin. Sia stood up next to introduce herself.


    "My username is Lyssia, just a humble level four archer who specializes in information gathering. I''m an honorary elder of Wings of Freedom and one of True Hero''s most trusted advisors, although I don''t have a habit of wearing my guild emblem. I hope we will get along."


    Oh dang! I forgot that Sia actually has a good resume, how terrifying. She might be even more influential than Tania....but Sia isn''t really well known since she doesn''t show herself much.


    "Oh! Nitsuya-san, so it was you after all, I recognized your manner of speech. I didn''t realize you were such an important figure in Wings of Freedom." Eugene cheerfully stated while respectfully greeting her.


    "I like lying low. It''s nice meeting you again. However, please refrain from talking about anything outside of this game."


    Diane didn''t seem to like Sia''s attitude, and she definitely showed it by sneering at her with distaste plain on her face.


    "What a bitch. Using her connections in reality to meet our guild leader? Bootlicking dogs like you should go scram! I bet you seduced your guild leader into giving you a higher position."


    ¡­...I don''t get this girl. How did she get that from this.....there''s no logic in her accusation.


    But anyway, I suppose it''s time for my introduction.


    I silently stood up from my seat. I didn''t miss the curious gazes that Eugene''s guild members gave me, is it because of my unique cloak? I''m too lazy to take it off though.


    "My name''s Yuka, level 4. I''m a ranger. Nice to meet you."


    Plain and simple. One of the great perks of being a ranger is the ability to use both thief and archer equipment. Classes like swordsman or mage only allow you to use class weapons. But being a ranger has its faults as well....


    "How rude! How dare you introduce yourself to Guild Leader Faraday like that?! You''re just some level 4 scum, stop trying to act cool and act more respectfully! I''ve never heard of someone called Yuka before, you don''t even have any status or backing!" Diane once again raged on as she angrily pointed at me.


    Uh, I guess saying so less is pretty rude¡­..but I really have nothing else to say!?


    What to do, what to do....


    Diane misunderstood my silence. "Cat got your tongue? Tch, learn your place. As a fellow ranger, I believe that you should listen to me! I''m stronger after all."


    ....You know, I keep finding my patience tested today. Eugene is bad enough, I really don''t need another annoying person. I wanted to relieve stress, not gain more!


    I really want to get out of here, I''m not even sure the drink is worth the trouble anymore.


    "...Miss Diane. May I ask you a question?" I quietly said with a cold voice.


    Although I didn''t speak very loudly, I amplified it enough so that it could be heard loud and clear. Diane hesitated before answering.


    "Pfffft. Sure thing, I don''t mind teaching you a thing or two."


    ".....Alright then. Do you think you have the ability to beat a top ranker in a one-on-one duel?"


    "What? What type of stupid question is that? only Guild Leader or the other people higher than him on the leaderboards can do something like that! Are you dumb or something?"


    I sighed and sat back down.


    "Then you have no right to speak to me like that. If you want my respect, earn it first!" I calmly declared in a firm tone.


    Diane sputtered for a few seconds before shaking in rage. But I ignored her, I''ve said what I''ve needed to say already.


    "Hey Faraday, I only stayed here for the drinks. If you aren''t going to order any beer then I might as well leave."


    Eugene exasperatedly chuckled at what I said. I''m not surprised that he''s already used to how I act.


    "No problem. I actually ordered it already, I just told them to wait. Hehe." He laughed while snapping his fingers.


    Immediately, a waiter entered the room with eight large glasses of beer and placed them on the table.


    Eugene broadly grinned. "Feel free to drink to your heart''s content!"


    T-this sneaky scoundrel...Fine! I''ll drink alright, if I don''t waste your gold then I''ll be damned!


    ___________________________


    "LOOKING FOR PARTY MEMBERS!"


    "Anyone above level 4? This party only needs 2 more people to join!"


    "THIS PARTY HAS TWO LEVEL 6 MEMBERS, JOIN US!"


    "YOU WANNA FIGHT ME?!?"


    """..."""


    I was currently standing in the Records Hall watching all the players run around in a frenzy.


    Hm? I wonder how it got to this¡­...


    I drank a lot of beer before Eugene and his buddies had to leave. I also remember that Diane didn''t seem to like me very much. Sia and Tania had gone back to their respective groups to catch up. I¡­...did nothing...


    I just realized that I''m jobless. Hah...


    But seriously, all I did was walk into a building and then people started shouting. How unlucky.


    What are they freaking out over?


    ¡­


    Uh, it''s definitely not my fault okay? Nope, not at all.


    Yet for some reason, I keep hearing Lynx and Yuka pop up? No, I must be imagining things. Why would anyone fight over that...


    I soon found the cause. Someone had placed a large bounty over my head.


    Well, now I get it. I''ve dropped from the leaderboards, so people I''ve killed would obviously leap for revenge. And since I''ve never been seen, the bounty is very high. As for Yuka......maybe it''s because no one has even heard about her before.


    But isn''t 10 gold coins too high?!? And the bounty is 10 coins per kill, for both of my personas. I don''t remember offending someone so important! Only a few dozen parties, True Hero, Fang...¡­.okay, well maybe I''ve offended more people than I thought.


    It wasn''t on purpose though!


    Seriously, I sorta want to hand myself in¡­...10 gold isn''t an amount to laugh at. An average player should only have around a few silver, not even close to one gold. Looks like I''m going to have to lay low for now.


    Perfect timing! I was just thinking about exploring some more, I''m pretty sure that no one would be able to chase me if I hide past the level 20 mountain range.


    Time to move!


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 34 Judging a book by its cover.

    I scanned my gaze over my little humble abode. A few things were moved here and there, so I suppose that Sia and Tania both used their scrolls and came to check it out. Good, I won''t be able to come back in a while, so having them keep things in order will be very handy.


    I inwardly sighed.


    Man.....if it weren''t for the fact that I need to lie low for a few days, I would have expanded this place a little.


    Nothing I can do about it now.


    I restocked all my items and scrolls before messaging both of my companions on my plans. They immediately sent back quick replies.


    Sia is going to stay and develop her guild while Tania is going to start leveling again. Now that I don''t need to worry about those two, I can do whatever I want!


    I trust them enough to notify me if anything important happens.


    Looking towards the tall mountains that towered beyond the beginner''s forest, I grinned and set off with vigor.


    It only took me around two hours to reach the mountain range while running.


    I did kill a few monsters here and there, it didn''t take very long.


    Standing at the foot of the tallest mountain, I nodded to myself in satisfaction and started looking around for anything that looked interesting.


    It wasn''t long before I found two giant doors leading into a cave. Out of sheer curiosity, I stepped forward and tried opening the door.


    Instantly, a system message popped up in front of me.


    [Cave of confusion - Dungeon level 15 - Max players 20 - No solo]


    Hmmm.....I''m not surprised that something like this showed up. Dad is quite a big fan of these types of things.


    Deciding to ignore the message, I once again tried to push open the door. However, an invisible force pushed against me and did not allow me to enter.


    How unfortunate, my curiosity is still not satisfied. The only thing I can do now is to wait for more players to find this place. It''s honestly not that hard, it''s not like the place is hidden or anything.


    In fact, I wouldn''t be surprised if someone finds this in a few days.


    Right, let us continue!


    I once again started jogging around the base of the mountain. Let''s see if I can find a path that cuts through to the other side.


    After an hour of running at a steady pace, I finally found what I was looking for.


    There was a worn-down path that seemed to be abandoned.


    I could tell why though, it was steep and had sharp rocks jutting out. It was also too narrow for carriages to go through, so only people walking on foot would be able to use it.


    But it''s perfect for me!


    Without hesitation, I stepped onto the path and kept jogging.


    -----------


    "I beg of you, please help me find my lost daughter. She wandered away from the campsite towards the river, and she hasn''t come back. I''m worried something happened to her."


    "I see....."


    "Please, adventurer. I will be in your debt!"


    [Quest: Find the daughter


    Info: Just find the girl that doesn''t seem to know where she''s going.


    Rewards: The happy tears of her father.


    Failure: Who knows.]


    ...


    What the heck, system.


    That sounds so sketchy.


    "...No thanks. I''m pretty busy."


    Turning away from the crying old man, I kept walking down the path that had widened considerably and ignored his pleas.


    I''m honestly surprised that a quest popped up so quickly.


    I had only been walking for half an hour and I suddenly bumped into a couple sitting around a campfire.


    Who do they think I am, some justice freak who''s willing to help any crying person I see?


    Nope. If anything, I''m definitely not a brave little hero that has plenty of time to waste.


    You''re gonna have to do better than that to get me to do something.


    I let out a large yawn and played around with my two daggers. This path is really boring, nothing to kill and no interesting quests. Maybe I should have headed towards the plains instead.


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    Looking at the system clock located on my menu bar, I decided to log off for the day.


    I still had a party to attend after all. Even if I''m reluctant to go, I still need to prepare for it.


    Although I''m sure glad my family likes lying low, nobody knows my family owns one of the largest companies in the world. At least I can act without worrying about losing face.


    Hah, even after all this time, still nobody knows my family created the only VRMMO game in the world!


    The paparazzi really need to do their job right.


    Not that I want them to, but I expected more trouble from them.


    "Log out."


    My surroundings faded to black as my consciousness was transported back into my physical body.


    Stepping out of the capsule, I stretched my body and headed back to my room. Eugene''s capsule was already empty, he probably left some time ago to prepare.


    I dived face-first into my bed and started thinking about what I should wear.


    Nothing fancy, that''s for sure. And I don''t want to stand out that much.


    I turned towards my closet and glanced at my clothes.


    I didn''t really have anything fit for wearing at a high-level party. The only thing that came close was my school uniform.


    Screw this....it''s not like I''m going to be staying for the whole thing. I don''t want to waste my precious brain cells on this. Time to just wear something random.


    Closing my eyes and randomly stretching my hand into my pile of clothes, I pulled out a pair of sweatpants, a black T-shirt that had a stretching cat, and a baseball cap.


    Alright, I''ll go with this then.


    Lazily changing my clothes, I mindlessly brushed my hair and jumped on my trusty bike.


    Around half an hour later I arrived at the grand hall that Eugene''s family had rented out specifically for this event. I was still a few minutes early, so I locked my bike and played with my phone to pass the time.


    While I was leaning against the building, soon many different expensive cars started driving into the parking lot. There were so many famous brands that the value of just one car could probably set any common person for life.


    The suits and dresses that the people wore were probably even more extravagant than the cars. All of them were either personally tailored from popular designers or branded clothes.


    And don''t forget the people, so many important and famous figures arrived that any citizen of Japan could probably name them all.


    As expected from such a large scale party, the difference between this event and normal high school parties is like heaven and earth!


    My reluctance in attending is only growing.


    Rubbing my forehead in annoyance, I reluctantly started walking towards the entrance. Unfortunately, my plan to dress low-key had backfired.


    Among all these well-dressed people, I was the one that stood out instead. I could already feel a few dismissive gazes coming from people.


    As I was about to step into the building, a buff looking security guard barred my entry.


    "''Scuse me miss, you perhaps lost? I''m afraid this place is reserved today, commoners not allowed to enter."


    I had a gut feeling that this would happen.


    Inwardly rolling my eyes, I smiled innocently at the guard.


    "I have a personal invitation."


    "Scram." He said while eyeing me threateningly.


    Woah dude, don''t judge a book by its cover. Do you even do your job right?


    "Are you sure you shouldn''t ask for my name first or at least proof?"


    "Like I would waste my time on you."


    "Mind if I call someone real to double-check? What do you think the consequence would be if you accidentally refused an important guest at the entrance?"


    The guard furrowed his brows.


    "It''s not like you''re gonna lose anything if you check, but if you don''t you''re gonna lose your job."


    "Don''t talk back to me you little brat. Go call whoever you want, and then get out of here."


    I grinned and took out my phone.


    Tapping in a few numbers, I set the call on speaker so that the guard could hear loud and clear.


    "Hello? How did you get this number?"


    The security guard paled after hearing the voice.


    "Yo, it''s pretty easy since you''re the one that kept spamming it into my private messages."


    "...! If it isn''t my favori-"


    "Right. So come out here and give me the information. I don''t have all night."


    "Sighhhh.....but you know, the deal was that you had to ATTEND the actual thing. Not just sit outside!"


    "Not my fault I can''t get inside in the first place, you have crappy security," I said while giving the pale guard a quick glance.


    "Hand over the phone."


    I smiled and gently gave my phone to the frozen man. Eugene''s voice calmly spoke over the speaker.


    "Fired. Get out."


    "S-sir I didn''t kn-"


    "Why are you still here?"


    "....Yes, sir."


    With shaking hands, he quietly handed my phone back and scrambled away. A new security guard immediately replaced his post and gestured me into the building.


    Okay, now THAT was satisfying.


    "You could have at least told him the reason."


    "I don''t have words to waste on people like him. To think he would reject you at the door.....!"


    "Yeah yeah okay."


    Hanging up, I walked towards the party venue with a happy grin.

 36 How it started

    I guess it''s a good thing I forgot to ask Toku and Kai to attend this party with me. That would have caused a lot of confusion.


    After the crowd''s chatter died down, Eugene strode up to the stage and took hold of the mic.


    I don''t even want to describe how he seemed to be sparkling up there, I regret not bringing sunglasses.


    "Ahem. May I get your attention please."


    A few words came out of his mouth and the ladies were already starting to sway.


    "I give my deepest gratitude towards all of the honored guests who have attended today''s party. Since this gathering was hosted by myself, I hope that you will enjoy your time to the fullest. Special thanks to Mr. Mizuki, the close aid of my father David Rose. Also thanks to Kai Suzuki and Toku Ito."


    My dad and brothers politely stood up and gave a slight bow as Eugene introduced them to the large crowd.


    Murmuring could be heard from many of the young ladies. The slight smile from Kai also caused many to blush, both men and women. Although Toku didn''t smile, I still caught many people staring up at him with interest.


    However, it was a bit disturbing how some older women also looked at my dad the same way...


    As expected, their status as close friends to the Rose family had already made them become the target of many people. In addition, if they could become friends in the first place that means their backgrounds must not be simple either.


    "Hey, isn''t that the guild leader of Gemstone?!"


    "That handsome blonde? Yeah! I was wondering why he seemed so familiar! Oh my god, he''s a catch.....so amazing in both the game and in real life!"


    My eyebrow twitched.


    Brothers, I pray for both of you. I hope you don''t get swarmed. Father as well.


    But it''s interesting that Eugene introduced my family all with separate last names. My family''s looks were never similar, our personalities are also all over the place. Having different last names will make people think that we are all unrelated.


    This is good, this way if my father''s identity as the GM of Sapphire is ever released no one will accuse Kai or Toku of cheating. Since they were also introduced to so many important people by such an influential family like the Rose family.....no one will doubt their information. Toku can figure out what to tell his girlfriend by himself, he''s more than capable enough for that.


    This is good news for me, this way I can do what I want without worrying about dragging my family into a mess. Eugene probably already got Ryan to change all the information documented of us beforehand. I''ll ask Ryan for information on our forged backgrounds once I get his contact information.


    Although people at school already know me as Yuri Mizuki, my last name is common so it shouldn''t be a problem. I don''t look anything like my dad.


    "And I would also like to mention the Prime Minister and his family who have come in addition to...."


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    Eugene kept talking with a bright smile on his face as he smoothly listed off all of the VIPs that had attended. The longer he talked, the more astonishment and awe appeared on the faces of the non-VIPs. The few people who were dissatisfied with the indifferent treatment towards them finally understood that their existences were on the same level as ants compared to the VIPs.


    Sometimes I forget how heaven-defying Eugene and his family''s status is. Even the Prime Minister can do nothing against them.


    Heck, sometimes I forget that my family is on the same level if not higher than them.


    I sure feel blessed all of a sudden.


    It makes you wonder why someone like me is still bullied at school.


    How did it even start again?


    If I recall, I definitely deserved it...


    -----------------------------------------


    To be honest, before I started being bullied, I was quite the popular person.


    And I used to be really full of myself.


    Heh.


    I know, being bullied has definitely opened my eyes and cut my ego down to size. Thinking back to how I had acted before, perhaps it was inevitable that the awe and envy of people gradually became jealousy and hate.


    Yeah, that''s what basically happened after I rejected a few dozen guys...and acted stupidly.


    I was proud of my looks and flaunted it everywhere, the fact that I always ranked first during exams didn''t make things better. I showed off my athletic abilities during PE class yet always refused to go to public track meets due to my pride. I also never joined a club believing that they were a waste of time.


    Which of course I still do believe but I don''t openly insult them anymore. I respect their dedication now.


    Oh, I also made it clear to everyone just how filthy rich I was.


    I even stopped the special daily training I had been doing. I promised my mom that I would do them every day but I broke that promise in the end. That''s probably the thing I regret most.


    Ugh, stupid stupid stupid Yuri.


    Whew.....I get shivers whenever I think about how immature I acted back then.


    Perhaps it was a good thing I started being bullied or else I would have never changed.


    Did I always act so full of myself before? No, not until I transferred to my current school. Not until I realized that this prestigious school that everyone kept praising didn''t have anyone better than me.


    Then my pride started growing.


    I really never expected that the best school in Japan was full of people who weren''t geniuses like people said there were. Most were just rich kids who depend on their parents for wealth and popularity.


    The only thing that actually met my expectations was the lavishly decorated campus grounds, but that all came from bribes and ''funding'' from the student''s parents.


    Let''s just say all my expectations were crushed. I prefer my old school where there are some ACTUAL smart people. Where they ACTUALLY let you learn.


    Why am I not standing up against the bullying?


    Um, is there really a point?


    What will happen even if they stop? It''s not like they will suddenly love me. Maybe I''ll get some peace during lunches, but I just hide up on the roof. They might stop messing with my textbooks, but I''ve already memorized it so it doesn''t matter.


    My reputation? That was shattered up and thrown away a long time ago. Halting physical abuse? That might be a bonus, it''s pretty annoying to hide bruises from my family. But they don''t hurt and I rarely converse with my family anyways. I spend my time in the Sapphire pod unmoving when I''m at home and don''t even see their faces.


    So yeah, that''s how I concluded that ending the bullying is just a bother. I could do it if I wanted, but I would rather spend that planning time playing Sapphire.


    Once I graduate school it won''t matter.


    Maybe this is simply karma and my punishment for breaking my promise to my mom.


    -----------------------------------------


    "...I will now officially announce the opening date for the Yuco Condos. The twin buildings will finish construction in two weeks! Half of the units available have already been pre-bought. Please check the website for further information regarding the housing units, times, and prices. Thank you very much for listening, please enjoy the party!"


    Eugene gave a final deep bow to the crowd after wrapping up his long speech.


    I didn''t really hear most of it but.....


    Did he really just say that his buildings were almost finished construction?


    How come I never realized that two giant buildings were being constructed nearby?


    Also, how rich is this guy gonna get. He''s only a high schooler. Already building his own condo complex, you must be kidding me.


    This isn''t how high schoolers are supposed to be like. My world view may be warped but I still have some common sense okay?


    But then....


    Ryan has a bounty of over a few million while the rest of them.....


    Jack is already known as the Gaming God while Xie is a nationwide celebrity.


    Not to mention the other two who love lying low. I''m not sure what they''re up to but it''s probably something big.


    Haha! I really know some weird people.

 37 She put in a lot of effor

    As everyone started mingling and trying to get connections and the band took over the stage, I used the temporary change to sneak from my corner to the backstage where Eugene was taking a break. I was aiming to get the contact information from him and go straight home.


    However, someone grabbed onto my arm before I could find him.


    "You...you''re in my new class aren''t you?" The familiar voice suspiciously asked from behind me.


    I reluctantly turned around and faced the Prime Minister''s daughter with my unwillingness to talk obviously on my face.


    I didn''t say anything as I let her stare at me.


    This girl seriously does whatever she wants huh.


    "Are you.....you''re Lynx?"


    My heart stopped.


    Was it because of that one time I saved her? Wait but I never told her my username...I still have a chance to trick her.


    "You must be mistaken. I''m definitely not Lynx." I responded with a face full of confusion.


    Her face became the same as mine.


    "Huh? But, you''re definitely the person that saved me that one time. Although it''s true I never got your username, you were wearing that designed glove with the hummingbird on it. Who else could you be."


    ...


    Why am I so easily exposed? Am I really that careless?


    "That was just a replica."


    "How and why did you get a replica?"


    "I like hummingbirds.....Lynx is like my idol."


    "Then why did you hide your username."


    "As I said, I''m shy."


    ". . ."


    "Can I go now?"


    "Tell me your username."


    No point in hiding it, might as well erase her suspicions.


    "Yuka."


    "So you''re really not that...Humming Slayer guy?"


    "You mean the Hummingbird? I''m obviously a girl."


    I can use this chance to change that cringy nickname that they keep calling me!


    Seemingly convinced but still a little suspicious, she let my arm go.


    I turned around and was about to leave to continue my search before she suddenly called out to me again.


    "Wait, what are you doing here?"


    Dammit, I thought this conversation was over.


    "Er, I was in the same class as Eugene back in America so he was relieved to see a familiar face. He invited me."


    "But I saw a guard get replaced after stopping you....."


    "I snitched on him after he insulted some uh.....important people."


    ". . ."


    "So can I go?"


    "Go where?"


    These questions are getting annoying.


    "To find that guy of course."


    "Why?"


    "Why must you continue to ask these meaningless questions..."


    Tomoe chuckled all of a sudden.


    Chuckled in a very high-class manner in fact. The hand over the mouth and everything.


    "Hehe. I was just joking with you, go ahead and find Mr. Franco. Don''t mind me."


    I don''t understand her jokes, but since she said I could leave I won''t hesitate.


    "Alright, see ya."


    I turned my back on her without a thought and immediately dashed off to find Eugene. Unfortunately, I was too late and he had already finished his break and started personally greeting his guests.


    Great. Now I have to wait until the end. What the heck do I do now?


    I heaved a hopeless sigh and decided to wait for the party to end. The Sapphire servers shut down every night so there was no point in rushing home.


    I resign myself to my fate.


    As I started heading for my favorite corner looking at my phone, I bumped into someone from behind.


    "Whoops, sor-"


    Looking up I saw yet another familiar face.


    I guess this is what happens when you know so many people from influential families.


    "....What are you doing here."


    "Hahaha, well if it isn''t Akane!" I awkwardly chuckled while breaking out in cold sweat and averting my eyes.


    This girl means trouble.


    "You really are mysterious, Yuri." She greeted with a scary smile and upturned eyes.


    I do NOT have a good feeling about this.


    "...Wanna keep this quiet from the school for me?"


    "Keep what quiet, you mean how somehow you''re at one of the most important parties in the world or something? I thought you were just a nobody. How did you get in? Judging by the clothes you''re wearing, you''re not supposed to be here. Sneak in?"


    Thank the heavens I decided to wear casual clothes.


    ".....I wanted to see someone."


    "You like Eugene Franco? I thought he was the one who was supposedly rejected by you."


    "....So that''s what the rumors are saying huh." I heaved a sigh.


    "It''s not true?"


    "...Not really."


    "Then what''s your relationship with Mr. Franco?"


    "We just knew each other from America. Used to be in the same class, he was just happy to see me and overreacted."


    "Mhm, I see. That explanation does make sense...but I do remember that you always bragged that your family was quite rich. Who are you anyway? Your athletic abilities are crazy, you seem to get full marks even under constant harassment, and you never seem majorly injured when beaten around by guys. And you''re Lynx as well...?"


    Of course, of all the people I had to bump into, it''s one of the crazy smart people at my school.


    "Um, just remind me, how did you figure out my game ID again?"


    "Don''t change the topic."


    Stubborn girl.


    "Please, I don''t think your explanation from before made much sense. I fell for it since I was in a panic, but there''s no way that it was true."


    "So you don''t believe the stupid tattoo story anymore?"


    . . .I think she''s mocking me.


    "No, I don''t. So give me the full explanation."


    She smirked at me. "I don''t think you have the right to know."


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    Oh she''s definitely mocking me now.


    "How about I''ll answer your question and you answer mine?"


    "I could always just threaten you to tell me but...sure this sounds more interesting." She laughed. "I''ll go first then, it wasn''t the tattoo that gave it away. You see, my family is quite influential you know? My father runs the most prestigious school in Japan and my mom is an important figure of the police force. I have access to all the school records and all the information I need."


    Wow, she''s really proud of her parents.


    "Yuri Mizuki, an extremely talented individual with a mysterious background that even I can''t figure out. All I know is that you''re rich, well educated and that you moved here from America when you were 7 years old with your family. No information can be found about your family except for a rumor that your mom is dead due to an accident caused by you."


    Tsk. Sia really amazed me when she managed to dig up that information. I have no idea how she did it. If Ryan is a genius at erasing info, then she''s the opposite and is a genius at finding info.


    "I knew that you play Sapphire. That''s obvious enough. Judging from your stubborn and prideful personality, I guessed that you wouldn''t join a guild or team up with anybody so that means you''re a solo player. As for narrowing down the possible solo players, there are few females. Sapphire doesn''t let you change gender so I simply looked into all the above-average individual players who were either female or labeled as unknown. Thanks to my title as the vice-leader of Gemstone, it''s pretty easy."


    She sure likes explaining things. Also, since she works with Kai she probably knew he was going to come to this party. I sure hope she''s not one of the people also aiming for him.


    "Ahem, you''re the one who asked me to explain this to you but you don''t seem to be listening."


    I quickly shook my head. "No no no, I''m definitely listening. Please keep talking."


    "Right, basically I just filtered out all the potential female players on my list after matching their faces to a picture of yours through a program I got someone to create. After that, I realized you must be one of the solo players whos genders were not yet revealed. In this day and age, it''s rare to find such people. Most people play with their friends in real life or quickly join some guild hoping to become influential. In the end, I eliminated all the players who were online during school hours and also all the players who rarely went online at all. Thus I ended up with just a dozen players that could have been you."


    This is getting really complicated...she did all this just to find information to use against me and force me to participate in the track meet? No way I''m believing that. She probably has some other motive for all this. Akane is really spending a lot of effort on me....thanks I guess? Sure makes me feel important.


    "During P.E. class when we were changing I then noticed you had a hummingbird tattoo which seemed to be similar to the one Lynx had. Who was coincidentally on my list! Therefore I took a gamble and bluffed, you fell for it hook, line, and sinker. That other story I told you was a complete lie that I made up after watching you leap over a wall. Tada! Finished explanation."


    "Wow...that was uh....."


    "Now, it''s your turn to answ-"


    Suddenly, as if God was helping me, all the lights dimmed and Eugene once again walked onto the stage.


    Good timing!


    Noticing that Akane was momentarily distracted, I casually backed away from her.


    "Right! Well thanks for the explanation, then I guess I''ll see you around....."


    Grasping my chance, I darted into the crowd of people before she could come to her senses.


    How much must I go through just to get one person''s contact information?!

 38 Not worth the trouble.

    "Ahem, the mic is working yes?" Eugene asked while clearing this throat. After getting the go-ahead from the tech team, he smiled and started talking.


    "I would like to once again thank everyone for coming to this gathering of mine. If you wish to stay longer after the gathering has ended that''s fine, but I wanted to notify everyone on some things before people start leaving."


    The crowd was absolutely silent.


    "First of all, I must remind everyone that since I am still pursuing my studies here in Japan any questions or business deals you wish to make with me must be directed to my assistant. Later when I have the time he will then direct them to me."


    Many people who had forgotten that Eugene was still a high schooler looked towards their own children with weird looks. Mhm, he sure raises the standards for high schoolers.


    "Secondly, I have to say this but I''m not currently on the look for potential marriage candidates. My apologies if I''m sounding too full of myself, but since many have already hinted at doing so I will reject everyone before anything becomes too complicated."


    Wow, I''ve never seen someone do that at a public gathering in front of the most influential people in Japan. As expected of Eugene. I already see all the dreaming girls finally coming back down to reality.


    Although of course, there are the few who refuse to accept reality. You know, the troublesome types.


    "Next, as many of you may know the world''s first VR game was released quite recently. I''m planning on investing in Sapphire and do business through the game. I''m not hesitant about telling the people gathered here since many already have the same ideas as I do. Through the gold exchange on the official website, it is possible to sell and buy in-game currency with real money with a 2% tax. Therefore I will grasp onto this profit opportunity through my guild called Mizanco. This is a warning and also an invitation. If you want to contact me in-game, my ID is Faraday."


    It''s true that you could earn a lot of money through Sapphire....but with the 2% tax on the official website, my father is still earning 1% of it without doing anything. Eugene already knows this, he''s probably helping my dad earn more money while taking a share of the profits.


    I don''t think my family is ever becoming broke.


    "In addition, I would not advise anyone here to try and get the help of the Drifters through me. Even though I hold the title of vice-president, everything is decided through a unanimous vote. The only exception is if the President of the Drifters personally speaks up."


    The President of the Drifters? It''s not Eugene? I''m surprised that he was willing to let someone else have the title when I left. I never expected this little group I made on a whim while I was a kid would become such a famous group where all the most influential people of the world wished to join.


    I heard rumors that they only accepted someone into the group if every current representative agreed. It''s really had to get in but if you managed to do so then you could do anything you wanted and nobody would dare to stop you.


    "Lastly, I will be donating a sum of 50 million USD to Tanaka Academy, which is the school I''m currently attending. This money will be used to create a new dormitory for the students and teachers. It will be mandatory to live in the new dorms for the first year after construction to help test out all the facilities. There will be a cafeteria, fitness room, swimming pool, and lounge all readily available for the students. No fee is required to live in the dorms, everything except meals are paid for. The new buildings will be called Sofia Gardens, named after a person very important to me. Construction will be finished in a month on December 6!"


    Sofia Gardens huh... Naming the dorms after my mom.


    But this isn''t good for me, this means I''ll have to live in the dorms as well. Good thing this is already my last year before graduating, at most I''ll only have to live there for six months....wait a second he did say December 6 right? Isn''t that my birthday?


    This might just be the worst birthday present in my life. Other people might love it, not me. Living in a building named after my own mom feels awkward. Also seeing her name everywhere doesn''t exactly bring up good memories.


    "Thank you all very much for your patience while listening to me talk."


    Yes, you''re very welcome.


    "This is all for today, as I''ve stated before you''re free to stay longer since I''ve rented this place until tomorrow afternoon. Any business can be conducted in the multiple meeting rooms located at the sides, renting one out is only 100 USD an hour. The food and drink will be replenished until midnight. Don''t worry about parking, I''ve got that covered. Please enjoy the rest of your evening!"


    Eugene really planned out this party rather meticulously. People have already started heading towards the meeting rooms, 100 USD is nothing but a drop in the bucket for them.


    Right, time to get Ryan''s contact information and get the heck out of here before I run out of patience and blow something up.


    I located the room that Eugene had entered. I didn''t see anyone else go in with him so it''s probably just him alone.


    Casually walking up to the door, I swung it open while tiredly rubbing my eyebrows.


    Oh, it''s not locked? I''m too tired to think clearly. All I want to do is jump into bed.....


    "Hey Eugene, hurry up and give me his contact information before I-" I looked up and realized that there were other people in the room sitting around a large meeting table.


    I awkwardly froze.


    I quickly scanned the faces for anyone unfamiliar. Toku, Kai, father, Mr. Rose, Mrs. Rose, Prime Minister Matayoshi, Tomoe, and Taichi Matayoshi. They all stared at me in surprise.


    I have no idea why they''re all gathered here, but it''s a good thing I''ve already met all of them before.


    I awkwardly scratched the back of my head. "Ohhh, I didn''t realize that there were other people here. I guess I''ll just leave....."


    I was just about turn and leave when the Prime Minister spoke up.


    "Aren''t you Rei''s daughter? Come in and join us!" He gladly exclaimed while standing up to greet me. "I remember meeting you last year, my how quickly you''ve grown. You''ve met my son, Tai, but you''ve never met my daughter correct? She''s your age."


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    I looked behind him and saw Tomoe staring at me with a seriously surprised expression.


    "Uh, we''re in the same class....." I replied.


    He blinked before grinning happily. "That''s wonderful news! You two will get along well with each other."


    . . .


    I slowly turned my head towards Eugene and glared at him.


    Now I know why the door was intentionally unlocked.....this guy planned this!


    He looked away with a tiny grin.


    Yeah, okay, this calls for war.


    I smiled brightly at Mr. Rose. "Hello sir, it''s a pleasure to meet you again."


    He smiled back and spoke in English instead. "The pleasure is all mine. I see that you''ve grown up wonderfully, you look just like your mother! I hope your English hasn''t gotten rusty."


    I kept my smile even though I really wanted to punch this guy. I don''t like him at all, I never have.


    "Thank you for the compliment. How was the trip here?" I spoke this time in English as well.


    "It was wonderful, Japan still does have some nice places even if it''s...Japan. How''s my son doing in school?"


    My brothers and my father frowned a bit but quickly reverted their faces to neutral. This is what I hate about him. Eugene hates his father too, hence why he even went as far as changing his own last name. David Rose has something against Japan because of an incident that had happened in the past. Although he doesn''t mind my family since we lived in America, I can tell that he''s sitting far from the Prime Minister on purpose.


    The reason he is best friends with my father is because they both knew each other from university and became close after being roommates for years.


    I pretended to think for a moment before answering him. Getting a bad feeling, Eugene paled and opened his mouth to cut in but I spoke before he could.


    "Eugene''s doing quite well at school...however he still has his old habit of attracting girls wherever he goes. He seems to be interested in quite a few. You know....your son is really popular."


    Mr. Rose frowned and glared at his son. Back in America he once arranged for Eugene to marry a girl but Eugene didn''t agree. I was one of the candidates before I convinced him otherwise....I mean, who still arranges marriages these days.


    I bet he doesn''t like the fact that Eugene was now swarmed with girls in Japan.


    "Is that so.....seems like we will be having a nice talk later, Eugene?"


    ".....Of course, father." He bitterly answered through gritted teeth.


    That''s what you get.


    Finally grasping the situation, my dad spoke up and changed the topic.


    "Yuri stop standing and sit down. We were simply talking about future plans for Sapphire. Since Mr. Rose is the vice-president of Amber he simply wanted to ask the Prime Minister for confirmation on the newest update coming out soon."


    As the adults kept talking about the complications surrounding Sapphire''s future update. I obediently sat down next to Toku and the Prime Minister''s son.


    "Hello, you can just call me Tai since we''ve met before. Is it alright if I call you Yuri?"


    I looked over at Tai and smiled.


    "Yeah sure, I don''t like formalities anyways. It''s nice to see you again, I believe the last time we met was at the Prime Minister''s birthday party last year?"


    He nodded. "Your father is amazing, to be part of Amber''s Marketing Committee is quite an outstanding achievement. But you know, Kai Suzuki over there is also part of the committee and he''s only in his twenties."


    I guess they don''t know the Marketing Committee Head is actually my brother and my father is the Board of Committee President. My father never shows his face to the public, he always gets someone else to take his place.


    Since they''re still clueless, we probably still don''t fully trust the Prime Minister''s family, this meeting must just be an official business deal.


    During last year''s party, my father only dragged me along and privately introduced me to the Prime Minister since both my brothers were busy. Apparently his excuse was that I needed more ''exposure'' to the outside world. That was the only time I ever went to any social gathering since coming to Japan. The Prime Minister''s family are the only people in Japan that know I''m related to my father.


    Now that I think about it, my brothers have never been introduced to anybody along with my father. I''m sure they will figure out good excuses to tell their acquaintances about their changed last names.


    Everything is so complicated that I think my brain is going to shut down soon.


    Right, let''s just leave manipulating the information all up to my family. Apart from school I never go outside and it''s not like I''ve changed my last name.


    Just as I was about to pull out my phone to kill time, Toku leaned over and whispered. Tai knew that we were already acquainted so he didn''t show an ounce of suspicion.


    "Big Sis.....If you''re going to come to a party you should wear something more fitting for the occasion. Next time you decided to barge into a formal gathering tell me ahead of time and I''ll fix something up for you. I know you don''t like wearing fancy clothes but if you keep this up you''ll ruin father''s reputation."


    I sighed miserably at the thought of wearing dresses again and reluctantly nodded my head.


    After everything I''ve gone through today, just getting Ryan''s information isn''t enough at all.

 40 Making a move.

    "Hey Yuri...you''re seriously sleeping there?"


    "Got a problem with it?"


    "N-no...but isn''t that really uncomfortable?"


    "Nope."


    "But making a girl sleep on the floor is-"


    I sat up from my sleeping position and glared at Eugene in annoyance.


    My position on the ground was lower than his so I had to look up at him to talk. Being looked down on by this guy slightly pisses me off but I''m the one who volunteered to sleep on the ground.


    Now that I think about it, isn''t this usually supposed to be the guy''s position? Why are our roles reversed....


    I sighed heavily without saying a word and flopped back down. Looking up at the ceiling, I thought about what my dad said earlier.


    ".....Hey Eugene."


    "Yeah Boss?"


    "Do you think the hunters are ever going to find me?"


    He was silent for a moment before answering.


    "I wouldn''t know....But don''t worry too much, the only people apart from your family that knows about your background are me and the gang. You don''t need to worry about us spilling your secret, we''d rather slit our own throats before betraying Boss!"


    The corner of my lips lifted after hearing Eugene''s confidence. I looked up at the bed for a while before shutting my eyes and responding.


    "...That''s nice to know."


    ----------------------------------------------------------


    I had just begun to fall asleep when suddenly my phone buzzed and the screen lit up with a text message.


    A notification? So late at night?


    Glancing over at Eugene to make sure he was asleep, I quietly picked up my phone and walked into the hallway to check.


    It was from an anonymous number. Suspicious.


    ---Jupiter Hotel Side Alley Door @ 2 AM.


    The hell? This is sketchy.


    I shouldn''t go. It''s obvious that nothing good will come from going. Curiosity killed the cat, it would be an idiotic move. My father''s warnings are still fresh in my mind as well.


    Just as I closed my phone and was about to re-enter the room, another message was sent.


    ---I know you''ve read it already. I would advise you to do as I say or else The Red will be meeting great misfortune very soon.


    I froze. I never expected these people to have investigated me so much....they even know that I have connections to the club.


    That''s impressive. I always go to The Red when I skip my classes and I''ve always made sure to meticulously hide my tracks. It isn''t a bad place on the surface, just a normal bar where office workers go to drink their sorrows away. However, the basement is where the real action is. Gambling, swindling, black market, all the interesting things happen there. Just like one of those gang hideouts that always show up in those movies. It''s a place only for invited members to hang out in. I feel like it''s a bit too exaggerated, but I can live with it.


    It''s a pretty good way to kill time, to be honest. That''s why I always go there in my free time, so many fun things happen! I''ve even become the most trusted friend of the club owner, I hold high influence within the circle. I guess you could say I''ve become an important person within their community. Not that I ever show my face. Just showing off a unique card I have in my possession suffices when it''s necessary.


    Oops, I''m getting off track. I don''t really have any obligations for the club, in fact they owe me instead. I''ve helped them get out of many problems when I was bored before so they feel greatly indebted to me.


    Do I feel a responsibility to risk my own safety just to keep them safe? No, I don''t.


    But if they were gone then my main source of entertainment during school hours would disappear as well. It''s too much trouble to find another organization and create a special status all over again.


    I guess I''ll go. If it comes down to the worst, I''ll have no choice but to fight my way out.


    Going back into the room, I put on a black hoodie, beanie, and changed from shorts into sweatpants. After jamming my tracker with a remote that I had made, I left the house through my room window without waking Eugene. It was the only way to avoid the cameras my dad had installed. I had already looped the camera that faced the yard before when sneaking out after school.


    My footsteps were non-existent as I unlocked my bike and pushed it onto the road.


    I looked back at my quiet house and took a deep breath.


    I entered the address into my phone''s GPS system and memorized the route to take. 45 minutes to get there, it was shorter than I thought. It located near the city''s downtown district.


    I checked the time. It was already 1 AM, there''s no time to waste.


    Jumping onto my trusty vehicle, I avoided the light from the street lamps and pedaled into the night. Hopefully, I won''t be pulling an all-nighter today.


    I took out my headphones from my hoodie pocket, connected them to my phone, and listened to the popular songs that had just recently come out. Humming along with the tune, I biked at a steady pace.


    People aren''t afraid of the dark itself.


    They''re afraid of what they might find in the dark, of what hides in the dark and what might be lingering within.


    They''re scared of the unknown, of what might be secretly looking at them.


    They''re scared of losing their vision, of not being able to see.


    Tell me, have you ever heard of a blind person scared of the dark? Nope.


    Also, bringing a bright light into the dark is probably the most idiotic move you could make. Although it increases your vision by a little bit, it also attracts things you don''t want noticing you. Like they say, a moth to a flame. Things are always attracted to the light.


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    I''m not someone who''s scared of the dark or what''s in it. In fact, I feel at ease when covered in shadows. I lean more on the ''feared'' side than the ''fearful'' side. In the dark, I can do what I want without people seeing me, but I will still be able to sense them. I don''t need light like other people, I guess I''m pretty abnormal.


    I always feel much calmer when it''s night time. My thoughts are always much more clear and even my senses are sharper. Haha, I''m what you would call a true night owl.


    ----------------------------------------------------------


    I arrived at my destination after half an hour, faster than the GPS predicted but that''s because my average speed was much higher than a normal biker. Since nobody could see me, I biked faster than usual.


    I calmly stared into the dark alleyway next to the brightly shining hotel. 5 stars, must be pretty expensive. The security is also tight but there''s none outside. I observed my surroundings. No windows along the wall, that''s highly suspicious since that''s unusual for such a high-class hotel. Normally there would at least be one-sided windows or something, but never none at all.


    There was the door that the text had told me about. I tried to open it but it was locked.


    I left my bike leaned against the alley wall before checking out the surroundings a bit more. I looked towards the corner of the alleyway and saw a well-hidden camera. It was on.


    I grinned and waved at it with my other hand in my pocket. It would be better to act myself since it''s obvious that they don''t expect me to be a normal teenager. Might as well meet their expectations while I''m here.


    I stretched exaggeratedly and took out my phone to check the time. Still 20 minutes before 2 AM.


    Sigh.....did I leave too early? I have better things to do...like sleeping.


    I turned towards the camera again.


    "I wonder if I can get in before the appointed time? It''s freezing out here. And I know the camera is equipped with a mic so you better not ignore me." I smiled while asking.


    A long moment of silence before I heard the door unlock.


    I smirked on the inside, this is fun. It''s been a long time since I''ve last been interested in something new!


    I strolled towards the metal door and opened it up without hesitation.

 41 Thats it.

    Pushing open the door, I was greeted by cement stairs heading downwards. The heavy metal door slammed shut behind me and automatically locked.


    . . .


    That was anticlimactic.


    I guess they don''t want me running away. That''s no problem, I wasn''t planning on fleeing in the first place.


    At least there are lights in here. Good, now I know that they are civilized at least.


    I took the stairs down into what I guessed was the hotel''s basement.


    Looking around the plain, grey, narrow hallway that I entered into, I saw many identical doors lining the walls and one double door at the end of the hallway. I tried opening a random door and found it locked. So they want me to go through the ones at the end.....


    I leisurely headed towards the very foreboding doors with my headphones hanging around my neck.


    Time to meet this incredibly rude person who sends texts after midnight. I''ll give him a good smack for waking me up.


    I pushed open the doors and walked through with no hesitation.


    Bright lights shined on my face causing me to squint and adjust to the sudden change of lighting. Ugh, I keep forgetting to bring sunglasses wherever I go.


    "Oh look who finally showed up! It''s Miss. Yuri. Nice to have you." A man''s voice resounded. "How was your trip?"


    I blinked a few times before my vision finally returned. Scanning the room which was around the size of my house in Sapphire, I saw a man sitting on a couch in the middle of the room with his legs up on a glass table in a very arrogant manner and his arms swung behind the backrest. He had bright red hair done in a spikey hairstyle, sunglasses (tsk) pushed up in his hair and a capital ''B'' tattooed on his right cheekbone. Looks like a rich kid.


    I don''t like him already. I looked around for a place to sit down.


    "What, not gonna answer me? Are you simply ignoring me or are you already charmed by my handsomeness?" He said in an irritating voice.


    "I''m ignoring you. You aren''t even going to give your guest a place to sit or something to drink? I''m still too young to drive you know, I had to bike all the way here."


    His two subordinates who were standing behind the couch tensed at my words. The man simply laughed at what I said and beckoned for them to bring over a chair. I sat down and matched his arrogant posture by leaning back and propping one foot on the edge of the seat. He simply observed me with interest and didn''t say anything. I looked around a bit more. If he wasn''t going to talk then I won''t either.


    The room was furnished extremely lavishly compared to the plain hallway. The floor was covered by a red carpet, (Why it was red, I don''t want to know.) an office chair and desk was behind the coach with bookshelves lining the walls. A few computers were on and lined up on the desk, probably connected to the security system. I recognized a few book titles based on criminal psychology and martial arts on the shelves. How ironic. Finishing my observation, I turned to the man who was just silently sitting very comfortably on his leather couch.


    "How long are you going to keep staring?" I asked while glaring at him.


    "You''re just so interesting I couldn''t help it. Anybody tell you that you''re a real looker?" He chucked. "You''re not even gonna ask why I called you here? Not gonna ask about me either?"


    I placed my hand under my chin and propped my elbow up on the chair arm.


    "I don''t particularly care, I just want to sleep. I still have school tomorrow you know. I would prefer it if you just finished things up quickly. I don''t enjoy keeping such an arrogant person company at all."


    His subordinates drew their guns and angrily pointed them at me.


    "Be quiet! A good for nothing girl like you-! Rude! You have no right to speak in such a manner."


    Um, excuse me? You guys are the ones being rude. Pointing a gun at me for no reason, their attitudes really suck.


    The man frowned and finally sat up properly. A light shone within his pitch-black eyes.


    I recognized that light, it was the look of a scheming rat.


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    "Yuri Mizuki. You are in no position to act arrogant. I would look around if I were you and open your eyes. This is my territory, you can''t escape. If you don''t act obediently then I''m afraid you won''t end up nicely."


    Oh yikes. We''re already heading towards threats.


    "Huh. You''re that mad just cause I didn''t ask you the questions you expected? What, did I ruin your script or something?" I joked.


    A gunshot sounded and a smoking hole appeared in the carpet in front of my chair. I glanced towards the subordinate who had shot.


    "Fingers feeling twitchy huh. That''s a dangerous weapon you got there."


    The man stood up and walked towards me.


    "You seriously don''t get it, do you. Your arrogance will be the end of you."


    Tch, looking down on me just cause I''m a girl. That''s gonna be the end of you.


    "Fine. What did you call me here for?" I asked while looking up at his standing figure.


    "Finally getting to the point..."


    Hey, you''re the one who didn''t just tell me directly.


    "Due to certain circumstances.....you''re gonna be mine."


    . . .


    "....My god... Did you call me here at 2 in the morning just for a confession? You seriously need to learn to have some better timing. I was asleep and dreaming when you woke me up."


    I scowled at him in annoyance. I''m not playing along with this anymore. I''ve never even met this creepy dude before. Aiming after a high schooler, does he have no morals?


    I stood up and turned towards the door.


    "I wouldn''t do that if I were you." The man''s voice said smugly. He clapped his hands loudly and the door burst open. A bunch of men in black all charged into the room and block the exit. I looked over my shoulder at the man with an eyebrow raised.


    So this was how he wanted to do things huh. Forcing someone to accept your terms is an amateurish move. Everyone knows that even a cornered rabbit will fight back.


    I exhaled slowly before putting on my headphones, blocking out all sound with my music. The man seemed to be saying something but I just ignored him. I can''t believe I wasted my time dealing with this guy.


    I continued to head towards the blockade of men with my hands in my pockets. The man behind me probably finally noticed I wasn''t listening to him, his face flushed and he signaled for the people to attack.


    They charged at me in an unorganized way like zombies from a horror film. The first one who reached me thew out a punch.


    .....too predictable. I''m starting to think that these are just some street thugs with a fancy office.


    With one counter, I knocked him unconscious and kick him towards his comrades. The room froze and fell into silence. I continued walking to the door but before I could leave the room my a chill went down my spine and I quickly tilted my head to the side. A bullet hit my headphones, causing them to be blown off my head and crash to the ground in pieces.


    I frowned, that was the last straw.


    I got those headphones as a present from my dad! Tsk. I was planning on just leaving, but now I''m itching to vent my rage.


    I turned around and saw the man gloating with a smoking pistol in his hand.


    "You scared now missy?! Don''t move or else I''ll blow your head off, I missed that one on purpose!"


    Miss on purpose? Hah, stop being delusional.


    I tied my hair up into a ponytail and readied my stance. Around 20 people in the room.


    Alright, I''m taking you all down. Then I''m definitely giving that guy a piece of my mind.

 43 I guess Im not importan

    I continued to stare at Joker in surprise. He seems pretty friendly? I was expecting someone more...savage after hearing the white suit man''s (who''s apparently called Nathan) warnings.


    I wonder if he''ll answer my questions if I ask nicely?


    Just as I was making up my mind about whether or not to risk it, Joker suddenly stopped talking and snapped back to his senses.


    He turned and glared fiercely at Alex. If gazes could kill, he probably would have died a few hundred times already.


    "Bishop....you have some things to explain to me now, don''t you? Why is this young lady here at 2 in the morning?" He said to Alex with a threatening face. "I don''t ever remember telling you to bring her here, I even once told everyone to not touch her. You''re disobeying me? I don''t care what background you have but if you don''t tell me truthfully then I''ll break your legs and throw you on the streets."


    Alex immediately jumped into a flawless kowtow, rubbing his forehead against the ground.


    That''s some amazing flexibility.


    "I seriously didn''t mean harm! After you mentioned her once I got some men to investigate her and found out that she was just a normal girl with no background...so I brought her here to bring to you as a little gift since you like her so much. Nobody will notice her absence, she''s a victim of bullying so after you finish with her we could just frame her for suicide! I''m seriously not rebelling against you-"


    Joker''s face got darker and darker the more Alex blabbed on but he didn''t realize since his head was down.


    I have a feeling that Alex isn''t gonna last long if he continues.


    "Stupid idiot. Do you think I had my eyes on a normal girl?! Do you think my tastes are that low?! You have no strength so you should at least have the smarts to make up for it, but you don''t have that either!" Joker roared in frustration. "Do you think a ''normal'' girl could have beat up 20 of our men and disarm two with guns with a few kicks?! Where did your brain go? There''s no way someone like her has a simple background you retarded bastard!"


    Alex froze and slowly looked up at Joker''s raging face.


    "B-Boss....."


    Joker ignored him and kept shouting.


    "Did you perhaps forget the fact that she once saved me?! No normal person could possibly help me when I''m in a tough situation. In the first place, I didn''t like her because of her looks! It''s her talent that could be of use! You should stop jumping to conclusions after only seeing the tip of the iceberg!"


    Oh? Does he want to use my talent? He sure dreams big. Although it does sound interesting to work for these guys, I''m not willing to do it for free or for money.


    Joked mercilessly kicked Alex in the stomach which sent him flying onto the body of one of his unconscious men.


    I heard the snap of ribs from that kick.


    Even though he was groaning in pain, Alex didn''t dare get up and simply curled up pitifully.


    Looks like the gap between a bishop and Joker is quite wide.


    Finished with dealing with Alex, Joker smiled at me.


    For some reason, his smile sent chills up my spine.


    "Well since you''re here, we might as well talk a little bit right?" He said.


    Although it was a question, his tone obviously meant it as an order.


    I stiffly nodded my head.


    I obediently sat down on the chair that he gestured me towards. He leisurely sat down on the couch and grinned.


    "Hah.....and I wanted to introduce myself properly at first. As you probably know by now, I''m Joker. That fool over there is Alexander Boyar and his family owns quite a large company. He paid for his position, that''s the only reason I still tolerate him in my gang."


    Gang? So I''m guessing they aren''t Yakuza after all?


    He seemed to read my mind and kept talking.


    "My gang isn''t Yakuza, that''s just a name we use to avoid some unwanted attention. The real Yakuza aren''t complaining, we got them under our control a long time ago. We aren''t like them at all."


    I nodded again to show that I was listening. Is he really supposed to be telling me this kind of stuff?


    "We are called the Chessboard. In fact, we currently have Japan''s underworld completely under our control. The country is split into three sections and a king rules each one. I''m sort of like their big boss."


    Chessboard huh. But he''s called Joker which has nothing to do with chess, what a weird guy.


    "We came here 10 years ago and we only have one goal in Japan, to find the rumored grandchildren of the tyrant of North America, ''Z''. We are hunters."


    My blood froze.


    My dad was right after all. The hunters really do have people looking all over the world.


    Ugh...I''m so screwed. I seriously wish they don''t realize they''re looking for me. If they do I hope they haven''t tracked me back to my family yet.


    "Yeah don''t worry Yuri, I know that it''s you."


    I don''t normally swear but...shit.


    Cold sweat started running down my back and I tensed up.


    It''s not like I''m scared of getting hurt, that''s already happened to me too many times to count.


    But bringing my family into this is unacceptable.


    I never expected to run into them here so I didn''t bring any weapons. My tracker was also jammed before I left. This is the worst situation possible.


    I quickly scanned the room for possible escape routes or weapons. No windows, one door, and no weapons apart from the two empty guns on the ground.


    I seriously regret not keeping those guns.


    "You are seriously good at staying low-key huh, even the government didn''t have much information on you. You weren''t easy to find but I luckily coincidently ran into that day. Hey hey, relax a bit I won''t turn you in. You''re useful to me after all." He chuckled before leaning back and propping his arms up.


    Confusion surfaced on my face and I didn''t even try to hide it.


    "Look, here''s the thing. There''s this group called House of Beginnings, you know them as hunters, who are all currently trying to find a way to bring down your dear grandpa from his throne over all of North America and take over. Each continent apart from Antarctica has a leader, Asia, Africa, South America, Europe, and Australia all have one like your grandpa. However, they''re all in a treaty and they won''t take action directly against each other until a World War happens or something like that. I don''t really know the specifics since I''m not that highly ranked. But basically, finding you and your siblings are only one side plan and it''s not even prioritized so it''s no problem if I don''t turn you in since they don''t have high expectations in the rumor actually being true. Sorry to say, you''re not that important."


    .....This is a larger scale then I thought.


    It does hurt when someone tells you that you''re not important right at your face though.


    "HOWEVER, if they really do manage to get their hands on you then the entire world balance would change once they take over North America since it is one of the strongest continents. I don''t really want this to happen so I''m betraying my superiors. Nobody but me knows who you are, not even the 3 kings who work under me. As for how I found out, you could just say that I''m super lucky to have run into you and recognize you, okay?"


    Okay. I don''t really care how he found out about me as long as he keeps quiet.


    "So! Since I''m risking my skin to save you and your family, you owe me big time! I can tell that you aren''t a normal high school girl. Just your fighting prowess alone is enough to beat up a king, and you''re not even close to reaching your full potential. As for your brains, I don''t doubt their capability seeing how you''re the daughter of one of the smartest women in the world. I bet your IQ is crazy high."


    Er.....I think he might be overestimating me here. I admit I''m good at fighting, but that doesn''t mean I''m smart...


    "Therefore!"


    Oh, he''s still not done.


    "In fact, I fancy you quite a lot. I''m only 22 after all, it''s uncommon to find women around my age who have such high potential. It would be nice if you willing agreed to be mine but judging by your personality there''s no way that''s gonna work out. I don''t like forcing people." He said with a wink.


    ".....You''re only 22?"


    Wow.....he''s only one year older than Kai.


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    How is he around my age? I''m only 17, there''s a 5-year gap.


    "....Why is that the part you focus on.....? Whatever just pretend you didn''t hear anything then. Knowing that I feel romantic interest towards you doesn''t look like it would change anything." He muttered while exasperatedly shaking his head.


    I shrugged. I got used to these types of conversations a long time ago. He''s probably just interested in how I''m different than the average person.


    "Yuri, you''re gonna work for me! And you''re not allowed to decline or else I''m gonna rat you and your family out!" He finally enthusiastically declared with a wide smile on his annoyingly handsome face.


    I mentally sighed and wondered what I should do next. I did sort of expect him to say something like that.


    Obviously, I can''t refuse him. I''m basically under his control now....I really do hate this sort of feeling.


    "Don''t worry you won''t be bullied. You''re gonna be the Queen of the Chessboard!"


    "Queen? Seriously?" I unconsciously blurted out.


    Isn''t a Queen really high ranked in chess?

 44 This is love indeed

    "Yes! Queen! Of! Japan! From now on that''s you!" He excitedly said while looking at me with glistening eyes.


    .....How come he seems more into this than me?


    "Although on the surface the 3 kings are still higher ranked, you''ll still have more influence and hold more importance than them. Just like in real chess, they''re just decoration while you''re the more powerful one!"


    Hmmm....that does sound nice. As long as I don''t become some pawn then I''m okay with it. It''s not like I''m obsessed with gaining power or anything.


    I just wanted to live a normal peaceful life...but it looks like that won''t be possible anymore.


    Here goes nothing then.


    "I''ll work for you, as long as you don''t touch my family or friends. I don''t want them dragged into this giant mess."


    Judging from what I heard, I doubt any of my acquaintances could go against Joker''s backing. The scale of this entire problem is just too large.


    "Of course, of course. I''m not interested in those lackeys." He quickly agreed.


    . . .


    Some of my ''lackeys'' are actually quite amazing...


    "So uh, what do I do exactly?" I asked. "Will I be acting on the front lines or behind the scenes? Business? Management?"


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    "Tsk tsk, Yuri. You''re my second-in-command now! You don''t need to worry about all the trivial details. I''ll inform you whenever I need your assistance with business deals or....quieting some people. You know what I''m talking about. Here, I''m sure you play Sapphire so contact me in the game later. We''ve always been doing business in the game ever since it came out. It''s more efficient than meeting face-to-face."


    I took the piece of paper he offered.


    So his username is....Joker. Of course.


    Should have expected it. No change at all.


    "Oh! I almost forgot, I also have a gift to show my sincerity!"


    Walking behind his desk and opening up a compartment, he took out a pitch-black leather case and placed it on the table.


    "Come over here and open this. I''m sure you''ll love it." He commanded with a suspiciously confident smile. "It wasn''t easy to get these in Japan you know."


    I opened up the case with curiosity.


    Within the red velvet, two very expensive guns appeared.


    Seeing what was inside, my eyes widened and I unconsciously started grinning.


    This is it.


    I think I''ve fallen in love.


    I held up the twin silver 44 Magnum revolvers in my hands and gazed at them in awe.


    Beautiful. Perfect. Yup, this is love for sure.


    It''s no wonder that people claim these guns are the most powerful handguns in the world.


    I quickly fastened the holsters meant for concealment to my sides.


    I''m surprised at how comfortable they are.


    Smoothly twirling the revolvers around and sliding them into their leather holsters with a satisfying click, I looked up at Joker who was watching me with amusement.


    "How''d you know that I could use guns?" I questioned him.


    "I mean, you''re the granddaughter of THE ''Lord of North America''. I guessed that you would know how to use firearms." He shrugged.


    I nodded my head in understanding. My mother did teach me how to use guns and even how to treat life-threatening injuries when I was younger.


    I was a bit weird thinking back to how I was only 6 but holding a loaded gun and practicing on the shooting range. My childhood was quite interesting. My mom did promise to teach me how to use bombs as well but she passed on before she had the chance.


    It''s fine though, I taught myself instead. If my mom thought that teaching me how to create bombs was necessary, then I''ll trust her judgment and learn it even if she''s gone.


    Just give me some gunpowder and a spark and I can help you blow up a building. No problem. I won''t involve innocents or work for free though.


    "Hey, aren''t you afraid of giving me these? I could shoot you and just run you know." I asked.


    In a flash, I had one of the revolvers in my hand and pointed the loaded magnum at his chest.


    He didn''t react and simply laughed.


    "I know you won''t do that. I''m much stronger than you right now, you''re no match for me. I could pull out my own gun and shoot you before you even react."


    To show that he wasn''t lying before I could blink he revealed a hidden pistol from his sleeve and pointed it at me.


    Tsk. It''s true that I''m no match for him.


    Yet.


    As he said himself, I haven''t been following my training schedule for some time so my full potential is being wasted.


    I smirked at him mentally. I''ll get stronger and pay back what happened today soon enough. I hate being threatened.


    "You''re sure that your bosses won''t catch on to this?" Better safe than sorry.


    "Well you see.....there''s technically only 12 people who have a higher standing than me within the organization. 4 council members who lead the House of Beginnings, each of them have 2 Generals who are like their second-in-commands. As for me, I''m just one of the 195 Commanders. Each commander is secretly stationed in a country and expected to do their best in taking over it. Although not all of them can manage to actually take complete control as I did to Japan....however there''s like an invisible hierarchy within the 195. Those who are in charge of larger countries generally have more influence within the organization."


    Makes sense.....Japan is important but it''s a pretty small country.


    "Thus if you ask me how powerful I am within the group, not very important but I''m not unimportant either. Perfectly in the middle, perfectly avoiding attention. Am I amazing or what?"


    "Mhm, totally. Super amazing."


    I looked at the clock in the office and realized that it was already almost 3 am.


    Seriously? We''ve been talking for over an hour already?!


    I need to get back before my dad gets suspicious.

 45 Old man Whi

    I looked back at Joker.


    "I need to go. I can''t allow my father to get suspicious."


    "Alright. You can go then. Don''t get run over by a truck."


    I ignored his joke and headed to the door but his voice spoke up again.


    "By the way....you don''t need to tolerate being bullied any longer."


    I stopped and looked at him with no expression on my face.


    I guess he did investigate me quite deeply.


    "Since I''ve already found out, you don''t need to use the bullying as a disguise anymore. Feel free to rampage to your heart''s content. I''ll make sure that none of my superiors notice what you''re doing. Watching someone you love being abused 24/7 isn''t nice you know. If you don''t stop them I''ll go in and beat them up myself."


    I raised an eyebrow. Really? He sure knows how to joke around. Someone who can say that they love you so easily is either lying or is your family or friend.


    I don''t believe what he says.


    Although if he does beat Ryuu up after charging into school, that would be a funny sight to see.


    Without saying a word back I left the room. I jogged to my bike which was luckily still where I left it and rode home.


    The journey back was faster since I didn''t hold back. I managed to arrive home a bit before 3:30.


    After quickly putting away my bike and slipping back into my room through the window, I looked over at Eugene''s sleeping figure and let out a breath of relief.


    Good thing he''s still sleeping.


    Lots of things have happened in such a short period of time.


    Tired of all that had happened today, I smoothly went under my covers and fell asleep.


    ----------------------------------------------


    School went by surprisingly peacefully the next day. I was expecting trouble from Eugene or Tomoe about yesterday evening but they didn''t do anything at all.


    What''s even weirder, nobody came up and harassed me.


    I''m not used to it. It''s too suspicious. Did Joker do something after all?


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    This peace is making me twitchy. It''s like the calm before the storm, I have an ominous feeling that major events will be happening soon. Both in and out of Sapphire.


    I biked back home with Eugene and we both logged into the game after changing out of our school uniforms.


    In the game, I appeared back in the middle of nowhere.


    Alright! Time to continue walking aimlessly until I find a village or something interesting.


    Half an hour later I really did find a village.


    Speak of the devil. I''m finally starting to feel like the main character.


    Walking into the village many of the inhabitants seemed to look at me weirdly.


    Is it because of my cloak...? I have to admit it does look shady.


    As I got closer to the center of the village an old man who was being guarded by two men approached me after observing me closely.


    "Excuse me, honorable adventurer, what brings you here to our humble village?" He asked politely yet also cautiously.


    "I''m lost. Sorry for the intrusion."


    It''s true though. I honestly have no idea where I am.


    His eyes opened wide at my unexpected answer and he suddenly started laughing.


    "HAHAHA! Young man, I feel like I would get along well with you! I''m Whit. I remember back when I was younger....."


    His two guards suddenly paled after hearing him start talking about his past.


    My condolences, it must be hard on you two.


    -----------------------------


    2. (very long) Hours. Later.


    "....and that''s how I ended up managing these folks here." He ended with a large sigh. "I''ve already long lost my edge. I''m only around level 40 or so ever since I''ve stopped adventuring."


    His eyes focused on me and he nodded.


    "You look like a strong fellow. It''s been a long time since I''ve gotten to tell my story to somebody, for some reason everybody is always too busy to listen to me!"


    Yeah, no kidding. I regret ever stepping foot into this village.


    [Affinity with Village Chief Whit has risen by 50]


    See? Even the system understands how torturous this is.


    "Kiddo, what''s your name?"


    "Lynx, sir."


    "Lynx...Lynx....good name! Very manly name, I like it! Don''t call me sir, just Whit will do! Hey, are you willing to do something for me?"


    Um no. You just called me, a very innocent 17-year-old high school girl, MANLY. I get that you can''t see my face under the cloak, but I don''t act like a male right?!


    I don''t want to do you any favors at all.


    But I still agreed. I''m such a forgiving person.


    [Quest: Save the Village has been unlocked.


    Description: The old man will tell you more.


    Reward: Who knows.]


    ...The system is getting lazier.


    "Little Lynx, recently our village has been threatened by an encampment of barbarians to the west. They have a barbarian chief named Than who is ruthless and has only given us two days to surrender before he will raid us without mercy. You are still young and strong without the need to fear death. I hope that you will find a way to rid this world of such a monster."


    The village chief lastly handed me a vial filled with red liquid.


    "This is a liquid extracted from the most poisonous mushroom recorded, Amanita, that is only found in a secret cave guarded by us. It''s our last resort and not even the royal family knows that we have this. I hope that you can use it well, after all our research we''ve only ever produced a small number of these. One vial can immediately kill any living creature under level 100 instantly after consumption." He said while looking me in the eyes with a determined stare. "You''re our only hope. Please don''t let us down, Little Lynx."


    [Amanita Poison - Can either instantly kill any living being under level 70 or knock them unconscious if a small dosage is used. Only effective if consumed or inserted into blood veins.]


    ...inserted into blood veins? Uh, excuse me?


    That''s a bit too much information. Thank you very much.


    Waving goodbye to Whit, I headed west to look for the barbarian encampment


    It honestly was pretty easy. It''s not like they tried to hide.


    Jumping into a tree at the edge of the clearing I scouted the camp.


    What I saw almost made me fall off.


    Err...over a dozen barbarians and each soldier is level 40.....that might be a bit too much for me...even with the poison.....


    I doubt pouring it into their soup would work, the liquid would end up diluted. That only happens in novels.


    I calculated the amount of poison given to me in my head. If just the soldiers are level 40 then the barbarian chief must be at least level 60 or higher. It might even be an elite.


    An idea suddenly popped into my head and my eyes lit up.


    The quest didn''t say that I had to wipe out the entire outpost right? Only the chief?


    That''s fine then! I''ll just only kill him with the poison and ignore the rest. I don''t need to deal with the lackeys. The villagers can deal with them.


    What did you say? I''m not acting like a hero?


    Screw it. I''m not a hero anyways.


    Throwing away free exp?


    Hm.....I can''t kill even one without the poison. It would be better if I just left instead of dying because of greed. The quest and killing the boss give enough exp anyways. Can''t be too greedy.


    I looked over at the giant tent located in the middle of the encampment. Only two guards.


    Coming out from the bush I was hiding in I took off my hood and walked up to the front gate.


    "I''m the representative of the village nearby, I need to speak to your chief," I said directly to one of the surprised gate guards.


    While other guards kept their eyes on me the man ran towards the tent and reported to the person in charge. A few moments later he ran back and nodded at me.


    "The chief says to let you in. He''s currently busy but he''ll see you soon."


    . . .


    Wait, isn''t this a bit too easy?


    I walked in and was lead towards the tent. However, we stopped right in front of one of the tent guards.


    He looked me up and down with a grin.


    "This is the representative? A little girl? Has that old geezer finally gone crazy and just decided to send a nice present to the chief?" He sneered.


    "Um, you guys aren''t gonna check me for weapons or anything?" I asked hesitantly.


    "What, you looking down on us, Little girl? Feel free to keep all the weapons you want, it''s not like you can take us down anyways. Just stay here until the chief isn''t busy anymore." He scowled before turning his head away in distaste.


    Heh....he sure is arrogant for a nobody. I''ll make sure he dies.


    I waited for a good hour before a barbarian soldier walked up to the tent with a mountain of food. I mentally grinned at the lucky opportunity.


    Approaching the soldier with the food, I smiled politely.


    "Is it okay if I serve him the food instead? Please? I want to at least leave a good impression on the chief."


    He stared dumbfounded for a moment before he quickly nodded with a bright red face, handed me the food, and dashed off.


    Hm, he''s so shy.


    I sneakily dumped in six-tenths of the poison to the food. It should be enough to kill the boss. I held the food carefully before notifying the guard and then stepping in.


    Their security sucks. I''m starting to doubt the intelligence of these AIs.

 46 Flawless Plan B!

    Inside the tent, there was a giant wooden throne placed behind a matching desk that took up half of the space.


    And a giant man sitting on the throne with his legs crossed and arm propped up arrogantly. His previously closed eyes snapped open when I walked in and he glared at me with annoyance.


    "How dare a woman walk into my tent while I''m resting? To think that the guards actually allowed such a thing, I''ll have to replace them later." He scowled.


    [Level 66 - Barbarian Chief Than]


    I regret accepting this quest. The system also needs to get a better sense of humor.


    At my current level, this quest boss could probably squish me like a cockroach. I don''t like cockroaches.


    Gotta play this smart. I really don''t like the feeling of dying either. It''s very unpleasant.


    And painful.


    And traumatizing.


    "Hahaha don''t blame the guards I was the one who asked to personally bring in your food," I said will a light tone.


    He looked at me with curiosity.


    "A little girl like you willingly walked into the tent of the man who''s been terrorizing your village? You''re gonna make me believe that?"


    "Believe it or not, the evidence is right in front of you." I shrugged.


    "Heh....looks like that old man finally did something right for once sending you over. He sure knows my preferences well. I''ll deal with you later. Get out first, you are disturbing my rest."


    ...uh. Time to just...leave.


    "Of course. Apologies for doing so."


    I placed the mountain of food down and bowed politely before slowly backing out of the tent.


    I guess I was just chased out. I don''t even know why but that hurt my pride a bit.


    Hopefully, he actually eats that stuff or else I''m probably gonna have to kill myself trying just to get out of here.


    Smiling at one of the guards to show my ''harmlessness'', I sat down next to the entrance and waited like the good hostage I was.


    I waited for a few minutes.


    And a few more.


    I was actually getting excited that maybe the poison really worked when I heard his voice called me in.


    Then I broke out in cold sweat.


    He''s still alive?


    I steadied my breathing even though my plan went off track. It was unexpected that he didn''t eat the food I had given him but that''s fine. Since I''m always careful I made a Plan B!


    If anything goes wrong then just stab him hard and run. Flawless.


    Taking a deep breath, I walked into the tent and greeted the chief.


    "I apologize for disturbing you earlier."


    I quickly scanned the tent for the food but couldn''t find the tray anywhere.


    What the heck?


    "What''s your name? The old man sent you over right?" The perfectly healthy-looking Than asked while beckoning me closer.


    "My name is Lynx. Village Chief Whit indeed was the one who had sent me over as a representative of the village to negotiate terms."


    Than sneered at what I said.


    "Negotiation? Hah! Only those with equal power have the rights to negotiate, a small village like yours can only submit to my wishes!"


    I gotta admit, what he said makes a lot of sense. Survival of the fittest and that crap.


    "A girl like you is quite pretty and die would be a waste. Come a bit closer." He ordered.


    I kept my arms behind my cloak and went close enough to touch him.


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    Well, since Plan A didn''t work I guess I have to go with Plan B. Stab and run!


    With a quick flick of my wrist, I took my knife and thrust it towards the chief with a quick practiced movement.


    He smiled and reacted professionally. In just a few moves he had me locked down.


    "Hah! You would actually use martial arts against me. I used to be a general of the kingdom, this is nothing! I had a feeling that you were sent to assassinate me. You don''t have the air of a normal girl." He spat out.


    He held me up by my right wrist and looked me up and down.


    "Hmm....well I guess I should teach you a less-"


    The cloak covered my entire body so he couldn''t see my left arm behind my back holding another knife with my Dual Wield skill. Before he could finish talking I used Vital Stab and aimed the knife at his neck.


    He frowned and dodged. I only managed to barely cut his skin. With one move he stole my knife and held it in his hand.


    Level gaps are way too overpowered. Dad, you should seriously nerf this.....


    Although it''s pretty suicidal for a level 7 to go against a level 66.


    "I was actually going to let you live...but you''re too dangerous. I''ll just kill you and send your dead body back to the old bastard."


    He brought my knife to my neck and prepared to strike.


    Right as I was readying myself for death, the barbarian chief suddenly paled and flopped over like a puppet with its strings cut. While I was still shocked, I got many level-up notifications that confirmed the chief''s death.


    . . .


    Uh. This is a bit unexpected. My heart almost leaped out from my chest.


    I froze and listened for movement from outside. No signs of panic or sound.


    Did the poison actually work.....? If it did....didn''t the description say that it was instant?


    A lightbulb light up in my brain.


    The dosage was probably too little to make him die instantly! I never expected him to actually be level 66 when his soldiers are only around level 50. That honestly worked in my favor this time. It gave me an excuse to enter the tent.


    This guy was a nice test for the poison.


    I retrieved my other knife from his hand and looked around the tent for anything valuable before leaving. I have to enjoy my spoils after all!


    Going around the tent I found a giant chest of gold coins which also had a level 60 special greatsword and a level 65 unique barbarian helmet.


    It''s such a shame that I can''t equip any of these. My level and my class don''t match the description.


    But anybody can use the money!


    I gathered up all the gold and threw it in my inventory. 247 gold coins! I''m probably richer than three Eugenes! That makes me pretty satisfied.


    Before walking out, I poured the rest of the poison onto my dagger and hid it within my cloak.


    I walked out of the tent and strode to the guard on my right. The nicer guard.


    The distance between the two guards is far enough due to the large size of the tent that the other one wouldn''t notice if I did anything minor.


    "The Boss is busy.....can I talk to you instead? I''m really bored since I''m not allowed to do anything." I sweetly asked with a bright smile on my face.


    The barbarian''s guard dropped as he stared at me with a confused expression.


    Probably thinking whether or not he was allowed to interact with me.


    It took him a few more seconds before he finally snapped out of his daze. He sneakily glanced towards the tent before making a decision.


    "Boss is busy? I can accompany you until he''s free..." He said with a glint in his eyes.


    The corner of my mouth twitched as I walked closer to him.


    Yeah, I don''t think I like this strategy after all. I would rather just take them all on at once instead of being subject to these looks...


    But since I''ve already started, I might as well continue. I doubt I can defeat this barbarian camp at my current level.


    As I drew closer I leaned slightly towards his ear. His eyes brightened after seeing that I wasn''t resisting and he completely lowered his defenses against me.


    "You know..." I softly whispered. "You''re pretty dumb, just like you''re Boss. And your Boss is dead."


    He stiffened but before he could move I knocked him unconscious with a small stab of the poisoned knife to the chest.


    I''m incredibly relieved that it was ''inserted into a blood vein''. This poison is seriously too scary. It knocked a level 40 out instantly!


    The thud from the sound of his comrade''s body falling attracted the attention of the other guard. His face darkened before he cautiously walked towards me with his sword out.


    "What did you do to him?" He suspiciously asked.


    I changed my face into one of utter confusion and innocence.


    "I have no idea! I was simply talking with him to kill time since I''m not allowed out of sight, but then he suddenly collapsed." I explained.


    The other guard didn''t seem to completely buy my story. I wouldn''t either, who the heck just randomly falls over?


    "I seriously didn''t do anything. Do you think that I would be able to harm him? I''m simply a village girl! If I could do something I would have escaped a long time ago. I have no idea why he fell over." I shrugged.


    The guard wavered. "What you say does sound reasonable...."


    He lowered his sword and bent over to check the pulse of his friend. Right as he lowered his guard, I whipped out the dagger that I had hidden and stabbed it hard at the back of his neck. There was still residue poison on the blade.


    The first stab didn''t manage to kill him off but did cause him to be stunned. I quickly stabbed down harder with all my strength a second time while also using Vital stab.


    Even a level 50 mob would die if his vital point was attacked (twice) with a poisoned dagger at such close range with a special skill.


    I stabbed him a couple more times to just confirm his death.


    What? No, I wasn''t getting revenge because of what he said to me at all! I''m not that petty. Nope.


    After making sure he was dead, I did the same thing to the other still unconscious guard. Because of killing them, my level went up twice.


    This is the best grinding strategy ever. I''m already at level 12 after killing the chief and just two of his soldiers! I quickly put my 25 stat points all into agility except for 5 on strength.


    I don''t really care how strong I am.....as long as I can go around in peace.


    Before any other barbarian noticed, I dragged both of them into the tent as fast as I could and used my Shadow Walker skill before running for my life out of the camp.


    Also, this poison sure is potent. I should ask the village chief for another one when I get back.

 47 I hate doing extra work, for free.

    I arrived back at the village at a fast pace thanks to my newly added agility points.


    Speed is my life. I won''t die as long as I can run away!


    Hey, I''m not a coward, I just don''t enjoy partaking in unnecessary violence. Ahem.


    Right as I returned back to the village Whit came out of his house and happily greeted me.


    "So? How was your scouting? They''re pretty strong huh. Did you manage to catch sight of their chief?" He hopefully asked with shining eyes.


    Hmmm....how should I break the news to him.....slowly and understandable.....


    Screw it. It takes too much time. Being direct is my motto.


    "Mhm. He''s dead."


    .


    .


    .


    Whit and the villagers who overheard me all froze for a second.


    "S-say that again? I think I''ve gotten so old that my hearing has gotten a bit messed u-"


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    "He''s dead. Thanks to your very potent poison."


    "...You didn''t just look around and come back to make plans? You actually killed all of the barbarians?!" Whit questioned whiled trembling.


    "No, I didn''t say that. Only the chief and his two guards are dead, all the other barbarians are still alive."


    Whit suddenly started panicking.


    "WHAT?! Then won''t they come to us for revenge?! We need to get the villagers out of here before they realize wha-"


    I sighed and calmed him down.


    "Village Chief, if I''m right then it should be fine. The barbarians are really stupid but their boss was just killed mysteriously and his two guards were brutally stabbed to death. There''s a pretty low chance that they would actually go looking around for revenge instead of running from the unknown killer as fast as they could. I could tell that they weren''t a loyal bunch in the first place seeing how the tent was lavishly decorated and the food the chief ate was good while the barbarians all shared one pot of soup and had to sleep on the ground." I explained.


    Whit just kept looking at me with doubt in his eyes.


    "Well, you can''t be absolutely sure that-"


    "Just listen. Although all of them were over 40, I could tell that most of them aren''t used to harming innocent people. Nothing happened to me at all. They didn''t even look at me. The chief himself told me that he used to be a general or something of some kingdom. I''m guessing that all the other "barbarians" used to be knights from his squad. Most are still morally uptight but were forced to follow him after he was corrupted and they were all branded traitors."


    "That sounds reasonable.....the first kingdom that comes to mind is the Kingdom of Kalbern, they''re known for being cruel against their enemies but also towards their own subjects. It wouldn''t be surprising if someone defected. It''s pretty far away though...."


    I nodded. Just gonna remind myself to never go there in the future.


    "I''m guessing that the soldiers can''t go back to their families for some reason or another. Few might hold a grudge against me for killing their leader but most of them probably don''t care. They''re in their current situation because of his actions after all."


    The old village chief finally gave out a long sigh before looking at me with a complicated expression.


    "In such a short time you actually took care of the problem which was looming over us for days....little Lynx, boy, we''re thankful for what you''ve done."


    I forced a smile with a twitching eyebrow as I looked at Whit and the surrounding villagers who were bowing in gratitude.


    I''m. A. Freaking. Girl. I have XX chromosomes. I''m 100% genetically female okay?


    But that would ruin the mood. I''m someone who knows how to read the atmosphere. I''ll just keep talking. They can''t see my face anyway.


    "It''s fine. I would advise you to try and win over the deserted soldiers. There are around 50 of them who are all over level 40 so their strength could be used to defend the village against situations like this in the future. If anything goes wrong then I''ll take the blame and do whatever you want me to."


    "Of course, I''ll trust your judgment. Even in a few disagree the majority will probably join us if what you said was true. Everybody wants a place to belong after all. They are probably sick of being ruled by fear and force under their chief for so long. I''ll be sure to promise them a peaceful life here."


    I nodded again in satisfaction. At least this guy knows what he''s doing.


    "Well then, I''ll be goi-"


    "To think that you would even help us with such a matter. How would we ever repay you?"


    [Quest updated: Save the Village has been extended


    Description: Successfully get the deserted knights to join the village and create suitable accommodations and jobs for them. Expand the village and build walls to increase protection.


    Reward: Who knows. Good job. Now you have more work to do.]


    . . .


    Dammit. I never said that I would help. Don''t jump to conclusions like this.


    Sigh....extra work....


    I guess I have no choice now...

 48 You would think that Im a nice person

    I logged out.


    Haha.


    Yeah, I ran from doing extra work for free. There''s no way I''m standing for that. Hopefully, the village will already have everything figured out after I log back in...although I doubt they will.


    Why am I not taking advantage of the situation and become something like the ruler of the village?


    Why would I do that? Tsk. It sounds like a giant pain in the arse.


    I''ve never wanted to rule over a crowd or be surrounded by important people.


    Although most of the people I know are pretty important huh...it''s not even my fault nor was it my intention.


    I sighed before getting out of the gaming capsule and stretching. The capsules next to me were all still closed and online.


    I guess Eugene and my brothers must be busy in Sapphire.


    Hah. Can''t relate. I don''t regret my decision of remaining solo at all.


    I smugly chuckled before preparing dinner early.


    Yes, I''m the official chef in the family. Although the only meal I cook is dinner.


    I quickly whipped up a few servings of pasta and put them into the fridge so that my brothers (I sort of think of Eugene as a brother) could find and eat them once they logged off. My father had already left a note saying that he wouldn''t come home tonight.


    It''s rare for him to stay out. I''m guessing that something important happened at work.


    The next morning when I arrived at school my desk was clean and nobody looked at me.


    I furrowed my brows in confusion. Just what the heck was going on?


    Looking around the classroom I saw many people either whispering in groups or looking at their phone. Some spared a few glances at me with complicated expressions.


    Ohhh....yikes.


    I quickly took out my phone and checked the school news, which I rarely look at.


    [HOT NEWS! TYRANT OF THE SCHOOL FINALLY EXPELLED!]


    I clicked the article and I almost dropped my phone. Good thing I didn''t though, it''s a pretty expensive model.


    \"The infamous tyrant of Tanaka Academy along with his followers have finally been brought to justice. The son of Okuma Kenjiro, the current Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ryuu Kenjiro was expelled along with X, X, X, and X after being reported to the police by an anonymous informer with evidence of their violence towards other classmates and also bribery and threats towards various teachers. The teachers who have accepted bribes have also been dismissed from their positions and are blacklisted from.....\"


    I skimmed through the rest of the article which listed all the things that he had done while still a student of the school.


    I was shocked at how detailed the information was. Basically, the entire school was cleaned up? In just half a day?


    .....When exactly did this happen?


    I always knew that Ryuu was the son of somebody important but I never expected it to be the Minister of Foreign Affairs....? He seriously let his son act like that? What type of crappy father is he...unless he didn''t know, of course.


    Well, I don''t really care.


    He''s one of the people who work side by side with the Prime Minister. I think I''ve seen him a couple of times.


    No. The better question to ask would probably be who exactly did this. Eugene? Akane? Sia?


    I''m sure that it wasn''t Joker, just a few hours ago he was telling me to beat them up. I doubt he would expel them before I got the chance to do that. Haha...


    Obviously the person who reported Ryuu has a more powerful background than him and isn''t scared of the consequences. If it was a person from an average household there''s no doubt that Ryuu and his supporters would do all that they can to get revenge. After all, they probably have a few people working in the police who would happily tell them who snitched on him.


    If they don''t, bribes always loosen lips. They definitely don''t lack money.


    Hmm.....I don''t think Akane is the type of person who would do such a thing. She doesn''t seem to like to stick her nose into unnecessary things. I doubt she would take action after doing nothing all this time. Unless she finally got sick of him or decided to get rid of him for the sake of the school''s reputation...nah.


    It''s much more possible that it was Eugene or Sia. Sia did tell me herself that she would do something about the bullying. She''s also a genius at getting information so it would be easy for her to get hold of evidence to hand to the police. But her background...


    Might as well just ask.


    I messaged both Sia and Eugene if they knew anything about Ryuu getting expelled.


    While waiting for them to respond, I finally added Ryan as a contact after getting his number from Eugene earlier today.


    ---{Hello Rye. Do me a favor?


    A few seconds later he had already responded.


    As expected of the most wanted hacker in the world.


    ---[Boss!?


    ---{Mhm. Are you going to do me a favor or not.


    ---[It doesn''t have to be a favor, I''ll do anything you ask. You haven''t contacted me in forever!


    ---{It looks like you haven''t changed at all. I bet you''re tracking my location with this phone right now.


    ---[Hahaha, yeah. So you are in Japan after all huh. No wonder Eugene suddenly wanted to go there with his father.


    ---{Alright stop with the chit chat. There''s this girl named Ichigo Yotsuba, also known as Matania in Sapphire. Find her?


    ---[Gimme a sec....Alright got it. I''m guessing you want to me remove the little stain she has on her criminal record?


    I''m still not used to how fast he is at finding stuff...


    ---{Tell me what it is first.


    ---[Let''s see.....pickpocketing, shoplifting, also one case of breaking into a car and stealing some stuff. Heh, she''s honestly not that good at this type of business. She was caught a few times.


    Huh...she didn''t tell me about breaking into a car.


    ---{Do you know why she did all this?


    ---[Of course, my title isn''t just for show you know. She''s currently in debt and is being chased by a gang called....Reign? Pfffft- Reign? Lol, that name is hilarious. I don''t really know why she would go as far as stealing to pay them back but maybe it''s cause she''s starving half to death.


    I frowned. Tania isn''t a stupid person (I think) so why would she be chased after those loan sharks?


    ---{Where did the debt come from?


    ---[Parents. They suddenly disappeared and left their two daughters. Tch. The bastard type.


    Hm....


    ---[Also, according to camera footage she doesn''t seem to resist the police.


    ---{What''s her sister doing?


    ---[Well.....one younger sister in a coma. She doesn''t seem to be doing great. They''re also lagging behind on paying the hospital bills.


    ---[That makes her desperation for money make sense. Huh.


    I thought about Tania''s situation for a bit.


    I guess I''ll help her? Never hurts having another lack- *cough* friend around. I''m a nice person after all.


    ---{Alright, send me pictures of her parents and pay for the hospital bills. I''ll deal with....Reign.


    I have a feeling Joker wouldn''t like the idea of sharing Japan with some thugs.

 49 Finally something fun is happening!

    I was enjoying my lunch on the rooftop as usual when I suddenly received a message from Joker.


    Oh, perfect timing. I was just about to go see him after school about Tania''s situation.


    [Meet me this address, I have a few people who are (not) looking forward to meeting you~ Don''t take too long! P.S. They were trying to hire us to mess you up! Haha! They''re hilarious!]


    My eyebrow started twitching uncontrollably.


    This guy seriously loves causing trouble for me. I''m at school! Does he expect me to just ditch classes to go see him?!


    ....


    Yeah, I guess he does huh.


    Alright then. Fine. School is pretty boring anyway. As for Eugene...my father got him to keep an eye on me but.....


    I looked down from the roof and smirked at the giant swarm of girls in the main courtyard.


    Haha! We all know what''s happening down there! I''m enjoying seeing his flustered face. He''s probably not used to being crowed by female students during lunch since he''s always had an unapproachable reputation back in America.


    Sia and Eugene also haven''t texted me back about Ryuu being expelled yet. I understand why Eugene wouldn''t have any time, but Sia usually responds immediately. I wonder if she''s busy?


    -------------------------------


    When I arrived at the appointed spot I was greeted by Joker''s annoying smirk.


    I stared at the gagged and bound up group of boys in front of him with a blank face.


    It was Ryuu and his gang glaring daggers at me.


    I sighed. This is going to be a major pain.


    \"Seriously? You actually made me go through the trouble of skipping classes and biking all the way here just to show me these guys? What were you expecting me to do with them?\" I complained while furrowing my brows.


    \"I dunno. They were ranting on about how they had to get revenge on you while pulling out wads of cash. These brats seem pretty rich, how''d you offend them? Weren''t these the guys who harassed your every day?\" He shrugged while counting the money he found on them.


    Wow. As expected of spoiled third-generation heirs. They think that money can solve everything.


    Wait, what the heck, it wasn''t even my fault that they got expelled.


    I walked towards Ryuu and ripped out his gag. He immediately started yelling with a tone full of hate.


    \"YOU BITCH! IT''S ALL YOUR FAULT THAT I''M LIKE THIS!\"


    I snorted. Hah. That''s hilarious.


    \"What made you think that?\"


    Ryuu growled. \"All because I punched you a few times. I got expelled, my reputations gone, and my father refuses to help! That''s the only reason I had to resort to hiring these filthy thugs and am now in this situation.\"


    I lifted a brow.


    \"You know, I wasn''t the one who snitched on you though so how is it my fault? I''m the victim here. I haven''t done anything all this time why would I act now?\"


    He just sneered. \"Like I would listen to that lie. Who else would want to expel me? You probably hired these guys to do it, that''s the only answer as to why they didn''t listen to me. You got to them first! You''re not innocent at all.\"


    I looked on in amazement. What he said actually made no sense. I''m the only one who would want to expel him? I can think of a lot of other people.


    \"You probably finally got fed up with me huh. You probably didn''t want your little childhood friend lover to see you in such a state huh. You coward!\"


    I thought that Ryuu could actually make logical conclusions. I guess I was wrong. I''m the coward? Maybe. But he''s just as much of a coward as I am.


    I also don''t care at all what Eugene thinks of me. I wish he would stop coming up in random conversations. Thinking about him is annoying.


    I stood in front of Ryuu thinking about what to do with him when Joker chuckled and gagged him up again.


    \"Don''t waste your time with this garbage, Yuri. I''ll deal with him my way. Unless you want revenge?\"


    I shook my head. There was no need for that. In a way, I was using them as well. I don''t really find enjoyment in watching others suffer either....sometimes.


    \"What are you going to do with them?\" I asked in curiosity.


    \"Heh.....I''ll make sure they never bother you again.\" A strange glint flashed in his eyes. \"Maybe just beat them up a little...hah....calling me a thug....tch.\"


    That doesn''t answer my question at all.


    It does make me start to pity Ryuu though. I pray he doesn''t die at least. It''s not like he''s done anything worth death towards me...


    \"By the way, someone was also following them while they were looking for us. We captured her just in case she''s the mastermind or something.\" Joker added while snapping his fingers.


    Two of his pawns walked out of a nearby room while leading a tied up girl between them.


    The corner of my lip curled up unconsciously.


    Guess who we have here?


    Good ol'' Sia. No wonder she didn''t text me back! She was too busy trailing Ryuu and then getting captured!


    She caught sight of me and paled. She probably thought that I was kidnapped like what Ryuu had requested. Joker did take the money after all. Free cash.


    \"You seriously kidnapped an innocent high school girl just for a bit of money?! You bastards!\" She shouted with indignation. \"You''ll all rot in h-\"


    I laughed and quickly signaled for her to be quiet. Joker simply leaned against a wall and watched.


    \"Hey, Sia it''s fine. These guys actually work for me you know. Well, not him.\" I said while pointing to Joker. \"I technically work for that guy.\"


    She still didn''t seem convinced. \"But Yuri, you can''t trust that they won''t do something to you. People like them are all perverted bas-\"


    \"Ahem.\" Joker cut in with a vein almost popping out of his forehead. \"I''m a pretty respectable gentleman if I do say so myself.....\"


    \"Pffffft- Haha Sia it''s really fine. It''s not like I trust him, I''m not that stupid.\"


    I probably shouldn''t be laughing when my friend is literally freaking out. I can''t help it though, it''s too funny.


    Joker looked at me with an offended expression that seemed to say ''Still no trust? Not even after I gave you that freaking expensive handgun?!''


    I had to hold back my laughter when continuing to reassure Sia. As if giving me a gun would make me trust him more. Probably would do the opposite for any other high school girl.


    \"Don''t worry. We have an agreement. I''ll work for him and do his work, for free, and he''ll keep a secret for me.\"


    I didn''t tell her that it was also because this agreement was very interesting, for both of us no doubt.


    She looked at me for a while trying to read my expressions to see if I was telling the truth. When she realized that I actually meant what I said, she slowly shook her head and sighed.


    \"Well whatever, I trust that you know what you''re doing Yuri...You always manage to surprise me.\"


    \"Of course. Who do you think I am?\"


    \"A very unreliable person.\"


    This time Joker was the one laughing while I stared at Sia offended.


    Excuse me? What part of me is unreliable? I''m very trustworthy.


    In the end, Joker let Sia go with a friendly wave. She left while still glaring at him with suspicion and saying that if I didn''t go to school tomorrow she would call the cops.


    He simply grinned and winked at her.


    \"Interesting friend you have there. She wasn''t scared of being captured by us at all. When you came, that was the only time she spoke to us.\" Joker stated while rubbing his chin in contemplation. \"Her trailing skills weren''t average either.....maybe I should hire her....\"


    I rolled my eyes and ignored him. I doubt Sia would ever agree to work for him. I also didn''t worry about him threatening her as he did to me, his sense of pride is too much to stoop that low. I''m a special case I guess. He''s a surprisingly morally uptight guy for someone who''s involved in the Underworld. It makes me wonder why he''s doing this dirty work instead of being a police or something.


    \"Right, I was actually going to come to you to ask you this question but I completely forgot with everything that happened. Do you know of a gang called Reign?\" I asked Joker.


    He looked at me blankly for a moment before scoffing in contempt.


    \"Seriously? Would you know the name of every annoying bug that flys around your house? I don''t even put people like them in my eyes. Well, unless the little bugs become a swarm. That might be a problem.\" He sneered with overwhelming arrogance.


    I just sighed.


    Of course. Joker is way too prideful.


    \"You want me to get rid of this so-called Reign groupie? Are they bothering you?\"


    I shrugged and shook my head.


    \"Not me. Just a friend. If you can''t deal with it I''ll just do it my-\"


    \"Pardon? I can deal with them easily with the snap of a finger, and so can you now that you''re the Queen.\"


    I paused. I forgot that I was in charge of a lot of people. Still not used to it.


    \"I''m used to doing things myself. I''ll deal with them myself if you feel like they aren''t a major threat. I haven''t tested myself in some time. Fighting in Sapphire isn''t realistic enough with the added stats and skills.\"


    Joker just nodded in understanding and took out his phone. \"I''ll text you the contact information of the three kings, they already committed your phone number and face to memory. Just call them if anything minor comes up. Other than them, nobody knows who the new Queen is. Such a small gang shouldn''t be a problem for you though.\"


    My phone screen lit up as I received his message. Three phone numbers with their corresponding owners and the king''s territories popped up.


    \"You probably didn''t know this but the owner of the club you''re friends with is actually a follower of one of the kings. I find it really ironic, to be honest. And to think you let a mere bishop threaten you with the club.....hahaha.\"


    I ignored his smug smirk. I had already told the owner of The Red that I wouldn''t be visiting anymore. He didn''t ask any questions. I still had a special card for the club in my possession, not sure what I''m going to be doing with that now.


    I do still hold a bit of attraction towards The Red, I learned how to master a few skills there like gambling, Billards, breakdancing...maybe I''ll visit them once things settle down. It was fun when it lasted. Such a pity.....


    That''s in the past now though, I won''t think much about it.


    I said a quick farewell and grinned before heading off to deal with Reign.


    Finally some fun. It''s been way too long since I''ve exercised.

 50 Okay Mr. Big-shot, I see how it is.

    I didn''t dare underestimate Reign as I did to the Chessboard. I learned my lesson the first time. Even though Joker said that they should be no problem I still carefully scouted out their base which Ryan had thoughtfully texted me.


    A sketchy cheap office building located in a run-down neighborhood with a worn-down sign saying ''sarakin''. All the windows were barred and the curtains were drawn. I didn''t see a single camera, I guess security must not be the highest priority around here....?


    Haha. This base of theirs is literally straight out of a ''how to be an illegal loan shark'' textbook!


    According to Ryan, the group should only have around a dozen people working together. It probably won''t be the biggest problem for me to shut them down all at once. I doubt any of them have had any martial arts training.


    I wish they did. It would be better practice for me.


    Saying this, I still have my new twin handguns strapped in their hidden holsters. Can''t be too careful.


    I''m a bit troubled as to how to make the organization (if you can call them that) close down. Getting enough evidence on them and handing them to the police would probably be the better way but...that wouldn''t help me test my current capabilities at all.


    Alright, time to just go in and beat them enough that they give up. We''ll work from there. Sounds reasonable. It makes me feel like the bad guy though.


    As I continued to scout the outside of the building, I caught sight of an incredibly sketchy store nearby.


    I stared at a futuristic black mask that had a silver rim through the store windows.


    Just my style! What a coincidence, I just needed something to hid my identity with.


    But honestly, I''m starting to doubt I''m living in reality.


    I don''t think a normal high school girl usually does things like this.


    I bought the mask from the still half-asleep storekeeper. He was surprisingly young, seemed to be only a few years older than me. Sketchy.


    I was still wearing my school uniform but I didn''t bother to change out of it. I just put on a cheap black hoodie that I bought along with the mask. Not only did it have a cool wing design on the back that sort of matched the mask, but the hood was also useful to help hide my uncommon hair color.


    But damn, this store really has everything useful for a robbery. They even have a small corner to change clothes in!


    Not suspicious at all. Nope. The man didn''t even bat an eye when I walked out of his shop looking like I was about to rob somebody. He simply went back to sleep after making sure I paid for everything.


    I think I can be friends with this guy.


    When I left the small shop, the streets were fortunately empty or else I had a feeling I would have been reported.


    You don''t usually see some weirdo with a hood up wearing a mask in broad daylight.


    Thank god there are no cameras around.


    I approached the building and casually walked in. It was too small to have a proper lobby, so I was greeted by an empty reception desk and a few chairs. There was a staircase leading up and the sounds of talking and laughter.


    What great service. Love it already.


    In case you didn''t notice, I''m being sarcastic.


    Someone seemed to have heard my entrance since the chatter stopped and a man who seemed around 20 came down. He looked at me with suspicion but seemed to relax after realizing that I came alone.


    "What do you need?" He asked. "We''re not currently open for business. You can come back af-"


    I ignored him and headed upstairs. Waste of time talking.


    I''m curious as to what the rest of the building would look like! I''ve never really seen an actual loan shark office before. It''s all new to me.


    "Hey! Where do you think you''re goi-" He tried to stop me but I cut him off with a quick kick to the groin which made him pale in pain and fall over.


    He was getting a bit annoying.


    When I got to the top of the stairs I saw around five people all standing up and posed in cautious postures. They probably heard the guy downstairs and thought something was up.


    No no, they''re all getting the wrong idea! I''m just simply giving myself a tour of the place!


    "Hey...missy...what do you think you''re doing?" A man with a bushy beard said with narrowed eyes. "This isn''t a place for kids like you to be at."


    The other four men nodded in agreement.


    I realized that their ages are quite diverse. There were four adults, but there was also a teenager who looked like he should have been in college.


    When they realized that I wasn''t answering, they looked at each other and shrugged.


    The teenager walked towards me and flashed his most charming smile. I studied him a bit more closely, I guess he would probably be considered handsome compared to average?


    It doesn''t really work against me though. I''ve already built up an immunity to good looking people. Girls included.


    The few guys I''ve associated myself with make this guy seem like a pebble at the side of the road.


    "You''re around my age, right? Why not take off that mask? There''s no reason to be wearing one here. We won''t harm you."


    Yeah right. I totally believe that.


    I stepped around him before stomping hard on the back of his knee and pushing him down the staircase.


    Bye-bye.


    He ended up promptly landing on the guy who was still squirming at the bottom in pain. He didn''t move. Probably knocked out from the fall.


    The other four immediately put up their guards and spread out. Judging from their stances only the oldest man had actual fighting experience and seemed to be their leader.


    As expected, he came towards me in a fighting position while motioning for his ''friends'' to stay back.


    1 v 1? Heh. You''re on.


    "Don''t try and fight boss missy, he used to be a specialist in the military!" One of his followers sneered proudly.


    A specialist? Uh....I don''t remember what that rank is. Sounds.....special....I guess.


    What was the point of telling me that? I don''t get it.


    I stepped towards the large man and started off with a jab to test the waters. He responded with a block and a counter. I shrugged it off with a parry and sneaked in a sidekick which was dodged. He lept back and looked at me with surprise.


    I still don''t remember what a specialist is...


    But whatever, this guy has good instincts.


    I shrugged and decided to actually get serious.


    This guy has been trained before so I won''t feel bad about beating him up. If he looses then that''s his own fault for not training enough.


    He was the one who made the first move this time. It was just a feint and punch combo. Boring. I once again parried his punch.


    I guess a specialist isn''t a big deal? Is that rank made up....?


    Seeing how I wasn''t focusing much on our duel, the leader''s face flushed up in anger and threw a punch in rage.


    I scoffed and blocked it with my elbow. A crack was heard from his fist, probably broke something.


    He was provoked so easily? My expectations have been ruined. I guess that''s all you get from a small loan shark group.


    I lashed out a sharp kick to his solar plexus and he fell to the ground gasping for air.


    I looked up at the other four.


    "W-what the fuck do you want with us?!" The person who seemed to be the second-in-command stuttered. "We''ll g-give money if that''s what you want."


    Did he mistake me for a robber?


    I tilted my head. Why am I starting to really feel like the bad guy?


    It doesn''t help my consciousness that I''m dressed in black, am wearing a mask, have two guns secretly equipped, and stormed in without an invitation and beat up their guys without saying a word.


    I didn''t notice but.....I indeed look like a crazy, cheap delinquent girl who''s desperate for money.


    More like I didn''t want to notice, actually. Wouldn''t be good for my own sanity.


    I now have more memories to seal up and add to my forbidden dark history.


    I was about to correct their misunderstandings when their leader finally caught his breath again.


    "Heh.....you won''t get away with this, missy. I may be the boss of this gang but we''re still under one of the 12 Rooks! Boss Kuno won''t forgive you!"


    Ohhhh! Spoken like a true side character! His dialogue fits the scenario perfectly!


    Thank you very much. I''m satisfied now.


    Hm? Rook? As in Chessboard Rook?


    I took out my phone and looked at the list of notable members that Joker had sent me in the past.


    Yup. There was a Rook named Kuno. I''m guessing that this group is his. I''m a bit curious as to why a Rook would care for a ragtag bunch like this.


    "Call your boss over then."


    They were the first words that I had spoken so they were momentarily shocked before the leader scrambled to take out his phone and text somebody. When the message was successfully noted as ''read'' he finally relaxed and laughed at me in contempt.


    "Just wait! You''ll be begging for forgiveness soon enough!"


    Okay.


    I just waited, as he told me to.


    I took the liberty to sit down as well.


    A few minutes later Kuno finally showed up with two guards in tow. He arrogantly looked down at where I was sitting.


    """""Boss!""""" The five men said simultaneously while pleading for him to do something about me with their eyes.


    "You dare attack my followers?" He threatened. "You just randomly decided to attack us? Did someone send you after me?"


    Do you think you''re important enough for that?


    I really don''t like people looking down on me. Literally.


    I stood up and leaned towards him with a sneer.


    "Hah. A measly Rook is acting like some big-shot? What a wannabe thug." I laughed.


    His face instantly darkened and he scowled.


    "Tsk. A mere high school girl dares to use that tone of voice towards me? Take her down and unmask her, I won''t stand for this disrespect."


    His two guards instantly pounced towards me like trained hounds.


    I struck them down instantly. A few thugs working under a Rook doesn''t scare me. To be honest, only Joker scares me....


    I suddenly saw another figure timidly peeking around the corner.


    "W-what happened here?" A familiar yet unfamiliar female voice shakily asked.


    Everyone turned towards the unexpected visitor.


    Black hair, gentle eyes, and a scared posture. However, her face was extremely familiar and I instantly recognized her as Tania. She was different, but still very charming due to her delicate features.


    Through the character customization, she had changed her hair color and gave herself tougher features but it was still within the 15% change range.


    I finally understand why people say that sometimes online personas are nothing like the real thing.


    Indeed, they''re not the same at all!


    Kuno looked at her with furrowed brows.


    "Tania, what are you doing here?" He quietly questioned.


    Wait....


    He seems to act.....gently towards her? Isn''t it his fault that she''s being chased by the cops?!


    H-huh? Although it was a miracle as to how Tania had survived fine for so long like this.....makes sense now. He''s a tsundere, a very stupid one at that.


    "I-I came to give the weekly quota...." She meekly answered while avoiding his eyes.


    Haha, it looks like she can''t tell and is really scared of him. Too bad for you Kuno.


    "Just stay downstairs for now, I''ll deal with this quickly." He ordered.


    Kuno turned back towards me without looking to see if Tania had listened to him. In fact, he probably wanted her to stay and impress her. That''s just way too unlucky. He''s even tossing his coat aside!


    Kuno ran his hand through his brown hair and glared at me.


    Well, at least he''s handsome? That''s probably the only good thing?


    I was still in thought when he suddenly charged at me without warning.


    Tsk. And I thought at least he was a gentleman.


    You''re wasting your good looks!


    Time to test the abilities of a Rook.

 51 Im a saint. I always knew it.

    Is Joker having a hard time finding talented people or something?


    I looked down at Kuro who was staring up at the ceiling blankly in disbelief.


    I beat him down in just a few moves. He''s definitely stronger than those thugs but still leagues below my level. Looks like being a Rook isn''t a big deal.


    "....who are you?" He finally whispered. "No way you''re a normal girl...."


    I shrugged and sat down in a chair.


    When Kuro looked at me in suspicion.


    "I won''t accept my defeat until you unveil yourself!"


    Weirdo. Whether you accept it or not, you still lost.


    I promptly ignored him.


    "I have to say, Tania, I never knew that your state was so terrible. Good thing I decided to come personally...."


    "....That voice.....M-master...?" Tania managed to ask in a state of shock. "W-what.....?"


    Kuro widened his eyes and looked visibly confused at this sudden development.


    "Ugh, I''m not your master. Dammit, I told you not to call me that in public...." I retorted with a grimace while cringing inside. "In the first place, isn''t that only used to address your superior....?"


    Tania seemed like she couldn''t believe her eyes and slowly walked towards me in amazement.


    "....Master.....I thought you were good at fighting after seeing you in the game but that was a major understatement....." She muttered.


    I think I was just ignored.


    "No wonder Sia keeps calling you a monster...I thought she was exaggerating...."


    Huh? I couldn''t hear her properly, she''s talking too quietly.


    "Oh, you look really different huh, Tania."


    She flinched back and lowered her head.


    "I wanted to be stronger...so I changed myself in the game. It''s as if I can become someone else in Sapphire....."


    Hm, relatable. That''s a pretty common case.


    "B-but Mast-"


    "Don''t call me that."


    "...B-bu-"


    "..."


    "...What are you doing here?" She asked in confusion.


    I looked back at her with a confused expression as well.


    "Weren''t you the one who asked me to help? I''ve already wiped your criminal history so I came to deal with your debt. I also paid for your sister''s medical bills. I''m even willing to help you move if you want."


    Her face went blank for a moment.


    Then she slowly sank to the floor while trembling.


    I just watched her with a neutral expression.


    Poor girl. Must have been through a lot of stress dealing with run-away parents and a sister in a coma all by herself. She''s still my age.


    "R-Really? Why would you do such a thing for a stranger....?"


    I just shrugged.


    "Cause we''re not strangers but friends of course. I rarely make friends, but I promise that I do treat them nicely when I do."


    She seemed pretty touched, considering she started crying.


    I got flustered. What the hell are you supposed to do when a girl starts crying?! I have no clue!


    It was true that I rarely make friends though. In the past, I was always too proud, and now I''m currently being bullied.


    Or wait, I''m not being bullied anymore. I forgot.


    I don''t really feel like making friends at my current school after everything that had happened though.


    Sia''s a different case.


    "Wait! You can''t just do that! Tania is mine, she''s still in debt!" Kuro suddenly jumps up and shouts. "You can''t take her away! I can''t give her to someone who doesn''t even dare show their face!"


    His previously defeated atmosphere immediately disappeared and he glared hatefully at me.


    Wow. Possessive much? Bro, at this rate you''re going to make her hate you. I bet she already does.


    I was wondering why a Rook would care about a few loan sharks. Looks like they were just what connected him to her.


    He seemed to have forgotten that I had just beaten him up and recklessly lunged towards me.


    I just threw him down again to remind him.


    "Seriously, you look pathetic."


    He shook in humiliation, probably at being beat by some mysterious highschool girl.


    Yeah, I would have been pretty embarrassed if that happened to me too.


    "Y-you won''t get away with this. I won''t allow myself to suffer from this humiliation....!"


    He''s starting to sound like another average thug...


    "Just wait....! I''m going to tell Lord Damian, he rules this entire territory, you won''t get away!"


    I facepalmed. Lord Damian? Isn''t that one of the kings? So I''m going to be skipping straight from a Rook to a King? I feel like the order is a bit messed up.


    However, before I could advise him not to look for this ''Lord Damian'' of his he had already picked up his coat and run away.


    Not before shooting Tania a fervent gaze of course. I got the shivers from that.


    Seeing that only me and Tania were left, I took off my mask and flipped off my hood. No need to wear it any longer. My face needs to breathe.


    I shook my head disappointedly. If only Kuro had decided to help Tania instead. She would have possibly fallen for him. But instead, he decided to try and take control over her life and keep her chained to him.


    That''s just being a bastard. That''s disgusting.


    I hate people who think others are like property.


    Hey. I''m not being a hypocrite, at least I always treat people like humans.


    Uh, the people who deserve such treatment at least.


    Also, who said I can''t recognize romance when I see it? I''m an expert at these things called relationships.


    Saying that I''m dense is a lie.


    Okay? Okay? Okay.


    Good.


    I''m not dense. Fight me.


    I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn''t even notice Tania''s worship like gaze until her face was literally right in front of me.


    "As expected of Master! Not even afraid of a gang leader! Sia was also telling the truth when she told me that you look the same as your avatar and if not prettier in real life."


    Sia? I have a bad feeling about this.


    I backed away a little from the overly-excited girl.


    She inched closer as a result.


    What happened to the timid girl hiding around the corner?! What did you do to the innocent and shy Tania from before?!


    "Please take me as your disciple! I admire your amazing martial art skills with all my heart! I will repay your acts of kindness towards me for the rest of my life!" She kept rambling on with a passionate gaze much like the one that Kuro had looked at her with before he left.


    I''m getting shivers again.


    "W-well....I don''t really have disciples so I''m not sure....." I hesitantly said.


    The few people back in America don''t count.....I think.


    Although Tania is seriously reminding me of them right now. They used to look at me the same way too. They didn''t leave me alone until I did what they said and created a mini group for them.


    So creepy. I''m almost glad that I left.


    Like c''mon, I was only seven. It seriously traumatized me.


    "Really?!" Tania''s eyes lit up brightly and filled with sparkles as she stared at me. "Then! I have the honor of being your, no, Master''s first disciple?!"


    Hah.....I can''t believe I have to deal with another person like them.....this is going to be tiring.


    ".....Fine, if you want." I reluctantly said. "Here''s my contact info, save it on your phone. My real name is Yuri Mizuki."


    I held up my phone number and she scrambled to copy it into her own phone.


    Tania''s face flushed up as she stared at her screen.


    What is wrong with her now?


    Whatever, not my problem. She doesn''t seem hurt so it should be fine.


    "By the way, your name is Tania Yotsuba, correct? Do you mind if I just call you Tania?" I asked.


    "Of course, you can call me anything you want!"


    "Alright, Tania it is."


    I put back on my mask and hood and walked downstairs. There was nobody there anymore. The thugs most likely ran away with their companions.


    Hm...I have a feeling that Kuro''s not done yet.


    I opened the door and was greeted by an encirclement of men all staring at me with caution.


    Oh, here they are.


    "HAHAHA! You caught me off guard last time, but I''ll get revenge now!" Kuro laughed at the back of the circle.


    Right. You''re standing pretty far away for someone trying to get revenge.


    But seriously Kuro, you were really fast at gathering reinforcements...


    How long has it been since he ran away? Around 5-10 minutes? Damn.


    I noticed another mysterious man standing next to him with a neutral stance.


    Oh? He gives off a domineering aura, I can even tell from here. This man must be ''Lord Damian'' then?


    Pffffft. His name sounds like some demon lord.


    Even the clothes he''s wearing are all black.....!


    I held back a chuckle after seeing him but Damian noticed and frowned slightly.


    "Who are you? What do you want from my men?" He asked with an incredibly serious face. "I do not wish for conflict."


    I couldn''t help but laugh from the tone he was using. Seriously, he''s acting exactly as I imagined!


    Damian frowned deeper after seeing me ignore him.


    "If you continue mocking my wishes for peace then I''ll have no choice but to use force." He threatened.


    Kuro seemed really excited after hearing that.


    "Lord Damian! She''s attacked me and my men without warning! She even forced my woman to leave me!" He rambled on.


    I rolled my eyes. Tania, who heard everything from behind me, gasped in disbelief.


    "M-master, I promise what he says isn''t true....!" She hurriedly said. "I would never...!"


    She said it loud enough that everyone heard her. Kuro''s face twisted in embarrassment after being mentally slapped.


    "You bitch! I''ve been treating you nicely all this time and this is how you repay me?!"


    Uh? What? Nice?


    How is forcing her to pay off a large debt while her sister is stuck in a coma and both parents are gone....nice?


    "You''re a useless nobody who depends on your ''Master''! You should be honored I noticed you!"


    Tania shook with anger but she couldn''t do anything.


    Yeah, I''m not putting up with that guy anymore.


    "I wouldn''t do anything if I were you. You''re just looking for another beating." I chuckled.


    Damian froze for a moment, but Kuro didn''t notice.


    "Lord Damian! Please punish those two bitches! They dare to disrespect you-"


    "Shut up. Everybody leaves. Now."


    "L-Lord Damian.....?" Kuro squeaked in confusion. "W-wha-"


    The entire group went silent and nobody moved.


    "I SAID NOW." He repeated with a tinge of impatience. "SCRAM."


    The men immediately snapped out of their dazes and dispersed. Everyone except for Kuro left silently without looking back and soon disappeared from the scene.


    I guess discipline is a priority among the Chessboard. That''s good.


    "Lord Damian! What about those two sluts?" Kuro protested. "I don''t doubt your strength to deal with them alone but more people-"


    Damian ruthlessly slammed his face into the pavement in an instant.


    Ouch...that looks painful.


    "I made a mistake when appointing you as a Rook. Apologize or be exiled."


    Kuro struggled to look up with a bloody nose.


    Wow, he''s not knocked out after that?


    "Apologize?! To those bit-"


    Damian smacked him again to shut him up.


    "Then you are no longer a Rook. As for your replacement...I''ll decided that later. Bastards like you aren''t accepted in the Chessboard." Damian stated before glancing at Tania and then looking at me.


    I grinned and met his gaze. It''s obvious he did that as an apology. What a nice guy. Sorry for making fun of your outfit before.


    Kuro paled and scrambled to his feet before running away with his face in a mess.


    Not after shooting me a death glare though. He probably thinks it''s all my fault that this happened huh.


    Sigh. For some reason, it''s always my fault.


    After Kuro left, Damian approached me. Tania shrunk back a bit in fear but he simply gave her a resigned smile and bowed deeply towards us.


    "My deepest apologizes for the disrespect my ex-subordinate has shown you. I''ve made sure to punish him accordingly."


    Tania''s eyes went wide in shock. She probably didn''t expect him to apologize so sincerely.


    I chuckled at her obvious surprise. This girl doesn''t hide her expressions at all.


    "How did you recognize me?" I asked while taking off my mask.


    It feels rude to talk with my face covered.


    "Milord has ordered all Kings to memorize not only your face but also your voice." He answered with his head still lowered. "I apologize for not recognizing you earlier."


    "It''s fine, it''s not like you could have known." I brushed it off lazily. "I just had some business to deal with. I didn''t know it would cause so much trouble."


    "No no! No problem at all. In fact, it''s my honor to meet you first. The other two Kings will probably be jealous."


    Huh? Why?


    Damian seemed to have read my mind and grinned.


    "Milord praises you a lot and tells us about your potential and fighting prowess. We''ve all been looking forward to meeting you. Now that I have, I can see why Milord would act in such a way. You are indeed as beautiful and as strong as he says."


    Wow. That''s a lot of praise all of a sudden.


    "Who is this fine young woman next to you, Milady?" He asked while peering at Tania with curiosity. "She is quite beautiful as well. As expected of Milady''s friends."


    Tania blushed lightly and I snorted. This guy sure has a way with words.


    "Tania, that''s Damian. Damian, she''s called Tania. Treat her well okay? Your ''ex-subordinate'' was harassing my friend. I don''t want something like this happening again."


    "Of course. I will ensure to harm comes to her within my territory, I will also spread the word to the other two Kings. She will be safe." Damian nodded his head seriously while Tania looked at me with a mixed but grateful gaze.


    "So Master is actually so powerful...."


    "Indeed! She''s the only woman fit for Milord!" Damian stated with pride. "She will rule Japan by his side!"


    Tania turned to him in shock and I facepalmed.


    "MASTER?! You have a boyfriend?!"


    "It''s a misunderstanding. I rejected him."


    "WHAT?! Milord was rejected?!"


    "No, well, yeah. But I mean, he didn''t seem to mind though?"


    They both stared at me with admiration.


    ""As expected of Master/Milady...."" They said in sync.


    Just as I was about to retort, my phone started ringing.


    It was a call from Eugene.


    Ah.....shoot, I forgot that I''m supposed to be in school.

 52 An incredibly thrilling duel

    I picked up the phone and walked back into the deserted building. Both Damian and Tania followed after me.


    "Eugene? Why''d you call me?"


    "Why did I call you?! WHY WEREN''T YOU IN CLASS?!" He shouted from the other side.


    I held the phone away from my ears speechless.


    Bro, that almost burst my eardrums.


    "I didn''t feel like going. I just skipped."


    "Yuri, you can''t just...whatever, where are you right now? I''ll go pick you up. School''s almost over anyway." Eugene said after calming down.


    "I''m at home, where else?" I lied.


    Damian and Tania suppressed their smirks while listening to my conversation.


    "What a shabby home you have, Milady," Damian whispered under his breath and Tania chuckled.


    Well, they seem to be getting along fine. That''s a relief.


    "Really?" Eugene asked again with suspicion.


    "Duh. Where else would I go? Some secret club to gamble?" I confirmed while rolling my eyes.


    "Yeah...I feel like that''s what you would do, actually."


    As expected of Eugene, he knows me well.


    "I''m fine, don''t worry about me. Did I miss anything important?"


    "Not really. The school gave a small update on the dorms and also about some event happening soon. I wasn''t really listening."


    "Alright, see you later then. Don''t tell my family I skipped class."


    "But your fath-"


    "Ah, sorry I''m about to dive into Sapphire. Contact me in the game."


    I hung up.


    I really don''t like being reminded of how overprotective my father is.


    I don''t like the feeling of being caged up. I understand that he''s worried about me and everything but it''s suffocating.


    I mean, Joker already knows anyway right? Nothing I can do about it, I might as well just do what I want. Japan is a safe place for me for now.


    I''m not that naive to believe that it''s all over. I''ll prepare for any possible unexpected occurrences accordingly.


    I turned to Damian and Tania.


    "I''ll be leaving. I need to get back home. Tania, contact me if you have any problems okay? Here''s a card, use it as you wish. You don''t need to worry about it running out."


    I handed Tania one of my never used bank cards. It should have at least a couple hundred thousand yen in it.


    I never use the money in the first place so I don''t care about giving it to someone else.


    Yeah yeah, the privileges of being born into a rich family.


    Although, the money in that card was from when I was playing around with stocks.


    "T-thank you very much!"


    I smiled and quickly left the building. I checked the time, the final school bell would ring soon. I need to make sure I arrive home before Eugene.


    I made my way to a more populated area of the city and hailed a taxi. I made sure to pay him extra to speed up a bit.


    As they say, money makes the world go round.


    The driver gladly did as I asked, he seemed weirdly excited as well.


    I can never understand taxi drivers.


    -----------------------------------------


    I arrived home in just a couple of minutes thanks to the lack of traffic. Eugene hadn''t made it back yet so I changed and dove into Sapphire.


    I''m excited to see Whit okay? I definitely didn''t do this to avoid Eugene. Yup.


    My surroundings changed and I materialized in the middle of the village where I had logged off.


    Huh? It was oddly quiet.....


    I rose my guard and scanned the silent village. Not a single soul was in sight.


    Shouldn''t things be busier since the deserted knights were going to be implemented?


    Suddenly a loud roar resounded from further away. I immediately started running towards the sound.


    I hope nothing happened to the villagers...


    Don''t misunderstand me though.


    I don''t want to fail my quest.


    And if you call me a tsundere then I WILL kick you.


    I got closer and closer to the sound. It wasn''t that far away so I arrived quickly.


    For some reason, the sound seems less like a roar and more like...a cheer?


    Arriving at a clearing, I saw all the villagers crowded around a circle where two men who I recognized as the deserters were standing within.


    Hm? Are they having a duel?


    The crowd suddenly fell silent again.


    The two men created some space between themselves and wore grim expressions.


    "I''m totally finishing you here, Rocky." The handsome man with fiery red hair and blazing eyes stated with a grin.


    "Oh, just try your best Vanir." Replied the buff black-bearded bear-like man facing him.


    Ohhhh! My blood is getting pumped up. I''ve never actually seen NPCs duel before! And level 40s at that!


    I held my breath as I watch the two men flash and charge at each other. They were so quick that I could barely see their figures.


    As expected of those with higher stats.


    Speaking of stats, I haven''t used my skill points yet huh.....I need to do that soon. Keeps slipping my mind.


    I threw those thoughts out of my head as the two men simultaneously drew their fists back mid-leap. The crowd of villagers and deserters was cheering again.


    "Rocky! You got this! Avenge me! Be the captain!"


    "Oi Vanir! Don''t embarrass me now!"


    "You got him Vanir! Show him your guts! You deserve to be the captain instead!"


    "I bet 10 gold on you Rocky! Show that pretty boy who''s boss!"


    They''re using a duel to decide the new captain? I guess that makes sense. These two must be the strongest ones.


    With a large shout, the two men struck out their fists and...


    ""ROCK. PAPER. SCISSORS!"" The two men roared.


    I fell from the tree.


    Vanir had his hand wide open while Rocky had his fist clutched.


    The crowd went wild as Vanir held up his open hand in victory and was stormed by his friends. Rocky could only look on with a helpless smile.


    "That''s our boy! Hahaha!"


    "Hail captain Vanir!"


    "YEAHHHHH!!!"


    "Hey, you owe me 10 gold by the way."


    "Screw you."


    ...


    I''m speechless.


    I don''t understand anymore.


    My eardrums hurt.


    This village really just...surprises me all the time.


    To think I was worried about them when they were all cheering about a rock paper scissors fight!


    I feel betrayed! My pure emotions have been wasted!


    Where is justice?! What am I supposed to do with this built-up excitement?


    "Oh? Isn''t this Little Lynx over here? Hahaha! When did you arrive, boy?" Whit guffawed after finally noticing me sprawled out under the tree. "Taking a nap? The weather is indeed quite nice!"


    His loud voice immediately attracted the attention of the others in the clearing. I instantly became the center of attention.


    "Hm? That''s the guy who killed off the ex-captain?"


    Yes, that''s me.


    "Seems like it, he looks pretty weak though. Skinny....."


    Why thank you.


    "Well, he did use poison after all. It''s a bit cowardly...."


    ...


    "Hey, shut up. He''s still our benefactor nonetheless. None of us could have beat the ex-captain. He still saved us from that hell. I would have been willing to use poison as well."


    I ignored the whispers, got up, and dusted myself off.


    "You managed to successfully convince the deserters?" I asked Whit.


    "Indeed! Everything you said was spot on! A few of them resisted but were quickly wiped out by the willing ones. These people here are now part of our village''s first-ever defense group. They were choosing their new captain just now."


    I hummed in response and check out the knights. The majority were men but I saw a couple of females as well.


    "Didn''t you find the duel thrilling?! I''ve never seen anything like it before, to be honest." Whit said with a sparkle in his eyes.


    "Ah, yeah. I''ve never seen anything like it before either...."


    And I don''t want to.


    Since the duel was over everyone started heading back towards the village. Many of the younger children were happily challenging each other to ''duels'' on the way back.


    I really hope this type of duel doesn''t become a tradition.


    Mark my words, I''m ditching this place if it does.


    Whit proceeded in telling me about their plans for the knights.


    "So far we''ve managed to squish in a few for every household, but we''ll need to create a barracks soon. Not to mention, we''ll also need a training ground for them and also find a way to get a stable food supply. Also, squads should be organized, ranks, patrol schedules...the villagers also want to create a wall around this place. Now that the village population has doubled we''ll also need a better-organized system to make decisions faster....."


    ...Don''t tell me....


    "So then, Little Lynx, we''ll be counting on you!"


    ...I had a feeling this was going to happen.

 53 The thoughts of a certain school prince.

    Eugene hung up the call with a dark face.


    Yuri had lied and he knew it. He wasn''t sure if she was telling the truth when she said she was currently at her house, but he definitely did know that she didn''t go straight home.


    He asked Lyssia after all. She had told him what happened with a worried face.


    He paced around on top of the school roof with a furrowed brow.


    Did his Boss have connections to a gang? Why else would Lyssia tell him that she seemed to be quite close to the mysterious man who was hired by Ryuu?


    He started biting the inside of his mouth in frustration.


    Didn''t his Boss know how dangerous it was for her to become acquainted with the Underworld?! She was currently being hunted for god''s sake! Isn''t she supposed to be a genius huh?!


    "How could she risk her own safety like that...." He sighed. "Should I tell her father?"


    He quickly dismissed the thought. If he did that then she should never trust him again and he would be seen as some tattletale! He had to find out more information.


    Eugene opened up his phone and texted Ryan.


    ---[Did Boss contact you recently?


    ---{Yup, thanks for giving her my contact information!


    ---[She asked for it. Don''t thank me. What did she want from you?


    ---{Oh, she just wanted some information regarding a friend of hers. Also to wipe out her friend''s criminal history.


    ---[Which friend?


    ---{I dunno. Some girl named Tania Yotsuba.


    Eugene frowned at the unfamiliar name. His Boss had another friend that wasn''t Lyssia? But wasn''t she constantly bullied?


    ---{Oh right, she also asked me for information on a gang called Reign. They''re loan sharks or something. I gave her their address.


    Eugene jumped up with worry after hearing that.


    ---[Why would you give her that kind of information?! Are you stupid?!


    ---{But she asked for it...


    ---[You know her situation though!


    ---{I don''t care. What the hell is wrong with you? Whatever she asks for I''ll give it to her. I have trust in Boss, unlike you.


    ---[What are you talking about.....?


    ---{Tch. I''m busy, don''t bother me with these pointless questions, Eugene.


    Eugene ground his teeth in frustration.


    What did that guy know! How was he not worried!


    Eugene was just about to text him again for the address when he stopped and re-read his conversation with Ryan.


    Did he really not trust his Boss enough? Why was he so worried about her even when he knew about her skills and intelligence?


    He slowly lowered his phone and dryly laughed.


    Since when did he become so petty? He valued trust more than anything. At this rate, he had no right to call Yuri his Boss.


    He''s not good enough for her. Why did he think he even had the right to like her?


    He shook his head and left the roof right as the school bell rang out signaling the end of classes for the day.


    He would first make sure she was fine by checking on her at her house. Then he would log into Sapphire and sort out his guild. He had been slacking due to school and worrying about his Boss.


    Eugene sighed as he walked through the school and avoided squealing girls.


    Maybe coming to Japan wasn''t the right choice after all.

 Chapter 54 - Being carried by NPCs is so satisfying

    ".....and so, we''ll be thanking you ahead of time, new village chief!"


    Old man.....


    Screw you.


    I was currently standing on a makeshift stage in front of the entire village population. Whit had just finished giving his speech on the plans for the future and then suddenly decided to nominate me as the new chief.


    I expected the villagers to disagree but...they all seemed to have expected it.


    Was I the only person not notified of my own nomination? Really?


    I feel like I''m being dragged around like some doll.....


    Whit wrapped up his speech. "That''s all for the announcement. Everyone is dismissed! Please ask your group leader for your assigned jobs for the next few days."


    As the crowd started to slowly split into groups for the village renovation, Whit led me and the new knight captain into a temporary village center. It was just a simple tent set-up a few hours ago as a place for important meetings and reports.


    Whit motioned for us to sit on the stools around the wooden table in the center. With a heavy sigh, he slumped down and crossed his legs.


    "This bag of bones is getting too old for things like this. It was around time for me to retire. It''s fortunate that you showed up when you did, Little Lynx."


    I nodded my head to show my silent agreement.


    Yeah, you really do seem too old for this. Although it isn''t fortunate for me at all....


    "We''ve successfully set up the various groups and appointed leaders. The largest group is for construction, the second is for hunting and patrolling, and the fourth is for the women and children to help with various tasks. It''s pretty simple so far. I believe that they will first be focusing on building the barracks?" Vanir summarized.


    "Yes, the village decided that securing shelter for the new people is the priority. After the barracks are finished then we''ll start working on the walls, training grounds, and town center."


    Sounds reasonable enough. Water and food is not a problem, we have hunters and a few farmers in the village. It also helps that the village is located in a bountiful forest near a river. There are many wells too. Even women and children can help by picking berries and transporting water.


    Huh? Since when did I start thinking of this village as ''we''?


    Whatever. I''ll help them get started and leave after.


    "I would advise you to also start building places like more homes, hotels, taverns, and shops once everything is done. I''m an abnormal case, but this place is halfway between two large cities. The road literally runs straight through the village. Although the mobs in this forest are level 40 to 50, it won''t be long before you see more adventurers coming. It''s better to take advantage of them and improve the village economy." I added.


    Both Whit and Vanir hummed to my suggestion in deep thought.


    "It''s true that more and more adventurers are appearing.....that''s a good idea, boy."


    "Indeed, although this village is already self-sufficient, if we wish to grow further then funding is necessary. While we were traveling here I and my men stumbled across a mine, we can also use the ore from there and our many talented blacksmiths to improve tools, homes, and living conditions. I''ve noticed that many tools are still made out of wood and stone."


    Iron and steel would definitely help out a lot. Coal as well. We can stop burning wood unnecessarily.


    "Alright, I''ll pick a few knights and blacksmiths to go with me into the mine. The sooner the better. With the addition of improved tools, we can start building the new barracks more efficiently and also reinforce the village buildings."


    Well, things are moving along perfectly.


    ----------------------------------------------


    It''s already been a week since the village has started its full-out renovation.


    Of course, since time is doubled in the game so technically it''s been two weeks.


    Nothing much happened at school. Tania hasn''t contacted me yet so I''m guessing she''s figuring things out by herself.


    Eugene is surprisingly not clinging to me as much as before. What a relief. Apart from school, we don''t talk since both of us immediately dive into Sapphire after getting home. I don''t know what caused him to change but I''m thankful.


    Just a few more weeks until the dorms are finished. I''m really not looking forward to it....


    As for the Track and Field Meet which is happening soon, I''m definitely not going. Akane''s threat to reveal that I''m Lynx won''t work since I can prove her wrong with my Yuka identity.


    Hahaha! My life hasn''t been so peaceful in such a long time!


    I just love doing nothing.


    "Hey, Cheif! We''ve finally finished up the last section of the wall!" A villager yelled out to me with a large grin.


    I looked over and admired the brand new wall. Built out of stone bricks and reinforced with metal, the wall was around a meter thick and 1 and a half stories tall. It wasn''t anything mind-blowing but that would change with time. The back and front gates were half a meter thick made of wood and reinforced with metal as well.


    I''m already surprised that we''ve finished both the barracks, the walls, and training grounds in just two weeks. Not to mention, the town center was already half-completed.


    As expected of a village where half the population is over level 50. They don''t act based on common sense at all.


    "Little Lynx! Come over here, we''re about to have another meeting."


    I obediently followed Whit towards the tent. This time it wasn''t just me, Vanir, and Whit. There were also the leaders of the various groups present.


    "Progress is going as expected!"


    .....this crazy speed is expected?


    "Now that the major projects are finished, how about we split up the construction crew into groups to focus on the smaller issues?"


    I nodded at Vanir''s suggestion. "We''ll need people to reinforce and improve the old village buildings and create better roads and streets. Some also need to finish the town center and start building shops and taverns for future visitors."


    The village, or town, was built in the shape of a circle. The walls were also built around it accordingly. Since the traveling road which connected the two cities led right through the middle of the village the two gates were also placed accordingly.


    "We should start with the main road. Most of the taverns and shops should be built along the road since then it would be more accessible to travelers. We''ll also need to flatten and improve the quality of the road so that in the future carriages can also drive on it. Since the town center is being built in the middle, the road can split around it and merge behind. There shouldn''t be a problem since the building isn''t facing a certain direction but is being built with a circular base."


    Whit chuckled happily after I finished speaking. "As expected of our new chief, you''re very motivated!


    The group leaders with us in the tent laughed along with him and bowed. "We''ll set to it immediately."


    They left the room with excited faces.


    They sure are passionate....


    "Hey hey, Little Lynx, what level are you now?" Whit scooched his stool over and whispered. Vanir copied him.


    "Level 38."


    His eyes opened wide.


    "Already?! I knew that you were working hard these two weeks but what were you even doing?!"


    Vanir answered in my steed.


    "Chief has been going hunting with my knight squads. He used to be only level 12 but after hunting level 50 creatures with the help of my knights his level has risen drastically." He explained while peering at my curiously. "However, the fast growth was also due to his amazing martial skills. If he wasn''t already proficient at fighting then there was no way he should have leveled up so quickly."


    Whit nodded with a blank face.


    "To think that you''ve almost caught up to my level....I''m really getting old....."


    I shrugged. I really have to thank the knights though. Being carried by NPCs who are over level 50 really made leveling so much easier.


    "Vanir, what level is your average knight now? They should be leveling up as well, correct?"


    NPCs are like players after all. They can hunt and level up as well.


    "Yes, the average level of my knights as grown to 60 from the increased amount of hunting and training. When we were...running away and under the rule of the ex-captain we didn''t have any time to train nor did we have the motivation."


    I''m starting to like ruling over a village. This grinding system is so satisfying...the only sad thing is that my pockets are still empty, all the gold and equipment I''ve had was given to the village for funding and improvements.


    I don''t mind, the levels are worth it. I''ve even gotten a new title called Leader. It boosts the overall stats of those in my party by 5%.


    My character menu now looks a bit like this:


    Lynx


    Level 39


    Titles: Hidden VIP, Disciple of a Marshall, Predator, Lone Hunter, Artisan, Aid, Soldier of Zircon, Leader


    Class: Ranger


    Achievements: 5


    Health: 1780


    Attack: 570


    Defense: 465


    Strength: 55 (+2)


    Agility: 72 (+1)


    Dexterity: 31 (+5)


    Vitality: 32 (+10)


    Intelligence: 5


    Luck: 10


    Charisma: (+12)


    Skill points: 7


    Skills: Air Step II, Shadow Walker, Vital Stab III, Dual Wielding, Disarm II, Stealth II, Kick I


    Each skill takes 10 skill points to level up. I''ve also got the new skills Disarm, Stealth, and Kick which are the beginning skills for a ranger. I''ve managed to slowly get used to them. As of now...my Vital Stab should be able to instantly kill anyone under level 15. If I get a critical stab, then anyone under level 20.


    It''s pretty overpowered, not going to lie.


    "Oh right. Vanir, once I get to level 50 I can get my first class upgrade right?" I asked the captain curiously.


    He hesitated for a moment. "I used to be a swordsman but was appointed as a knight by my master at level 50 if that''s what you are talking about.....I''m not sure about you since you''re a ranger. But I''ve heard that they don''t have the best classes....."


    .....


    Well.....it can''t be that bad right? It''s true that not many people chose the ranger as their starting class. Most people go for the popular ones like swordsman or mage.


    "Never mind that! Little Lynx, it''s already been two weeks but nobody knows what you even look like under that hood and mask. The only thing we know is that you''re relatively young. This old man is curious about how handsome you are!" Whit suddenly changed the topic and started looking at me with shining eyes.


    Uh.....

 Chapter 55 - Chief...youre a girl?

    I hesitated as to whether or not I should reveal my actual gender. It would be a show of trust, but at the same time...it would be risky for someone to connect my face and my name together.


    Many people will be coming through this village in the future and talking with the villagers. They will find out for sure that ''Lynx'' has been here already, I don''t want to expose myself even more.


    "Sorry, I have some circ.u.mstances that won''t allow me to reveal my face....."


    Whit frowned.


    "Is it a face issue? Don''t worry, even if you have been disfigured nobody will mock you here." He encouraged.


    "N-no....my face is fine...."


    "Then is it a trust issue? Do you not trust us, Little Lynx?" He asked.


    I suddenly felt guilt run through me. I''ve already become their chief and even took advantage of their knights to level up...


    "Alright.....can you promise me one thing though?"


    Both Whit and Vanir nodded.


    "Please don''t call me by Lynx anymore. Just pretend you don''t know my name. I''m currently being hunted by other adventures...." I sighed.


    "Hunted? Are you a...criminal?" Vanir narrowed his eyes.


    I quickly shook my head.


    "Not at all. I''m even the disciple of Zircon''s Marshall. I just offended somebody rich."


    Vanir''s eyes glinted. "Who? Someone actually dares to hunt our chief?"


    "Er....Two adventurer guild leaders called Fang and True Hero. I have quite a large bounty on my head."


    "Well then...I''ll tell my knights to keep an eye out for this....Fang and True Hero." Vanir muttered.


    I bowed my head in gratitude and grinned at the fate of the two people in my mind.


    That''s what you get for annoying me. I''ll pay you back by making an entire squad of knights block you from passing.


    "So Little Ly-, uh, Little Chief! Are you going to take off those things or what! Hurry up!" Whit exclaimed while leaning forward.


    But do I really trust them? Even if it''s accidental, they might tip someone off.


    "Are there non-disclosure agreements in this game?" I muttered to myself.


    They both looked at each other before turning back to me.


    "Is that a contract?"


    I glanced at them in surprise. "You guys can sign contracts?"


    Whit furrowed his brows seriously. "I believe that adventurers have Contracts. We can sign Pacts with you. There are different levels of Pacts. Rank 1 Pacts are between equals and the punishment for breaching or terminating the Pact can be agreed on beforehand. Rank 2 pacts are used between Masters and Subordinates."


    Vanir nodded in agreement. "They are quite complicated though. All us knights had a Rank 2 Pact with the ex-chief but it was dissolved once he died. It was foolish of us to have trust in that bastard."


    Oh, it makes sense as to why they never fought back now.


    "Is it possible to sign an agreement to ensure my secret never gets out?"


    "I believe so. That would most likely just be the Rank 1 Pact."


    "Alright, let''s do that then."


    Vanir and Whit held their fists to their c.h.e.s.ts and spoke.


    "I, Vanir Fireheart, make a Rank 1 Pact with Adventurer Lynx. I will not disclose any secrets trusted upon myself to anybody but Whit."


    Whit proceeded to repeat a similar Pact as Vanir.


    Well, it''s nice to know Vanir''s full name. Whit doesn''t have one? Is Vanir special for some reason?


    "So, can we finally see your face, Little Chief? You sure made us go through a lot of trouble just for this peek. It better be worth it!" Whit joked to lighten up the atmosphere.


    "Alright, as long as you don''t describe my appearance I don''t care what else you say. I don''t mind people knowing I''m female."


    "Sure sur- wait what? Female...?"


    I unequipped my mask and flipped back my hood. My tucked hair spilled out and I smiled faintly.


    "Worth it?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.


    "W-worth it? Worth it worth it!" Whit exclaimed with a glowing face, giving me a thumbs up. "Definitely worth it! I haven''t seen such beauty in ages! My old eyes can finally rest in peace!"


    He paused for a minute before looking at my face curiously.


    "Hey, Little Chief, how do you make your voice sound masculine under your mask?"


    "Magic."


    "Psh. Thanks for the useful info. What a shame, your real voice is way better than your fake one."


    I rolled my eyes and glanced at Vanir who was still staring with wide eyes. Whit followed my gaze and chuckled.


    "Boy, your eyes are about to fall out! Restrain yourself a bit!" Whit laughed. "Your knight squad already has many beauties so why aren''t you used to it yet?"


    Vanir shook his head to clear his thoughts and blushed in embarrassment at his actions.


    "N-no, it''s my first time seeing such a beautiful lady...."


    Whit just kept laughing his heart out.


    "Little Chief! I understand why you''re running away now! If I was younger I would have chased you to the end of the world just for a look! HAHAHA!"


    "I already told you, I offended someone rich."


    "Offended? What did you do, steal their man? Hah! If someone as good-looking as you offended me I would be honored!" The old man shook his head in dismay.


    Vanir snorted. "M.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.t."


    I shrugged.


    These two are over-exaggerating. People basically ignore me at school. Honestly, if I was as stunning as Whit says then there would be no reason for people to always look down and refuse to make eye contact right? My two brothers are the good-looking ones in the family.


    "My looks aren''t as amazing as you say. They''re just slightly above average."


    Whit tilted his head and leaned in for a closer look.


    "...Above average? Miss Chief, for some reason I feel like your average is different from my average? Who would be considered average for you?"


    I thought for a moment before pointing at Vanir.


    "Him," I stated bluntly. "He''s around average."


    "M-me?" Vanir stuttered while pointing to himself. "Average? Nobody has called me that before though?"


    Whit clicked his tongue while shaking his head in dismay. "Seriously? This boy is average to you? You have some seriously high standards.....he''s already considered really good-looking!"


    I started to doubt my own common sense after hearing Whit say that. I peered at the knight captain closely.


    Hmm...indeed I guess he''s slightly above average? Definitely not on Eugene or Kai''s level, but he would probably be able to become a celebrity with his face. His aura has a very...devilish feeling? Like Joker! It''s probably because of his fighting occupation. He''s also extremely fit but still somehow slim.


    "Yeah.....I guess he''s above average..." I agreed slowly.


    Whit seemed like he was about to refute what I said but was interrupted by a shout from outside. "Chief! We need your advice!"


    Standing up, I excused myself from the ''meeting'' and strode outside. Of course, I put my mask and hood on before leaving.


    "What is it?" I asked the man who had called for me.


    He slightly bowed his head before talking excitedly. "We were wondering if we could get your permission to create a statue in the villag-, er, town center? I personally promise that it will be magnificent!"


    "Statue? Of what?" For some reason, I had a really bad feeling.


    "Who else but you, Chief?"


    "Um, you don''t even know what I look like though?"


    "That''s no problem! We''ll use your current appearance! We just need you to pose right ther-"


    I quickly stopped him from speaking further and reasoned with him. "Wait a moment, I never agreed. A statue is a bit much, isn''t it? I just became your chief, I don''t deserve something that flashy."


    "It''s not flashy at all! We will fully engrave the image of our strongest and most handsome chief forever into this town! It is necessary!"


    Whit peeked his head out of the tent and grinned at the man mischievously. "You should stop calling Chief handsome!"


    Due to his loud voice, all the surrounding people stopped what they were doing and looked at me in confusion.


    """"...""""


    "Chief...are you not handsome?" The man asked with an odd expression.


    ...


    I sighed at Whit''s antics. "I just need to pose for a bit right?"

 Chapter 56 - Saintess

    Vanir and Whit watched their mysterious chief leave the tent with odd expressions.


    There were a few seconds of silence before Whit spoke up.


    "Hey boy, is it just me, or does our chief seriously not believe she''s beautiful? She doesn''t seem to be joking."


    "...That''s what I think too."


    "Seriously, her looks could already start a war between nations!"


    "Indeed."


    "What caused her to act that way? Are the adventurer''s standards just really high?" He said with a resigned smile. "It''s scary. When I saw her I thought my heart would stop and I''m already so old. Her beauty doesn''t necessarily make people fall for her, but it''s just strangely charming. Charismatic? I really never expected for our chief to be a female, and such a stunning one at that."


    "Mhm."


    "Hah...having such beauty is like a curse. I understand why she covers herself up all the time. I pity our chief a bit. Many people wish for beauty but they never realize how terrifying it is to be targeted because of it. I bet our chief has troubles living a normal life."


    Vanir just kept nodding in agreement.


    Whit glanced at him suspiciously. "Why are you so silent? Don''t tell me you''ve fallen for her."


    "It''s not that. Just.....for some reason, I find her face very familiar? Have I perhaps seen her before....?"


    "You must be mistaken, when would a noble like you ever have gotten the chance to meet an adventurer? I don''t think the kingdom has any."


    Vanir gave his silent agreement but continued to stare at the entrance of the tent with furrowed brows.


    ---------------------------------------


    Sophia looked away from the mirror and stepped out onto the room''s open balcony. She seemed to be within a tall tower. The building was located on a tall isolated mountain and surrounded by chilling mist. The surrounding gave off a very solemn and sacred vibe.


    She looked down and saw a few people chatting while taking care of the beautifully decorated garden below.


    She couldn''t recognize the clothes that they wore. Their skin was light and their facial features looked European. Did she somehow wake up in Europe? The last thing she remembered was being in a car crash...


    Coincidentally, a worker glanced up and locked eyes with her. He was stunned for a moment before shakily stumbling back and falling onto his bottom.


    "S-she''s...the Saintess is awake....!"


    "The Saintess has finally awoken!?"


    "Seriously?!


    "Quick, tell the Pope!"


    "How many years has it been! Finally!"


    The excited yells and cheers quickly spread throughout the large building. Sophia simply observed everything happening with calm eyes. She then noticed something and lifted her eyebrows in surprise.


    They were speaking Japanese?


    Seeing so many people who were obviously not Asian speaking and yelling in fluent Japanese gave her an odd feeling.


    Soon, a nervous knock came from the room''s extravagantly engraved double door so she walked back into the room and scanned it for anything useful items. Seeing a sharp hair ornament, she smoothly tucked it into her hair and covered it up.


    "Come in."


    A young man with long silver hair and a golden band around his forehead elegantly entered the room. He didn''t even dare set his eyes upon Sophia before getting on his knees and bowing in a reverent position.


    "This humble servant Leo greets the Saintess."


    Sophia silently watched him. This man was most likely the Pope, and she was the Saintess they were talking about. Her mind started to spin as she thought of the many possibilities that had led up to this situation.


    She was either dead and in the afterworld, was transported to another world, was in the future, or was captured and being made fun of.


    She quickly crossed off the latter two. The workers and the Pope weren''t acting or lying. She would have been able to tell if they did.


    The building didn''t seem to have any electrical devices and she had seen the garden workers use something like...magic.


    Was she really transmigrated? But she doubted that people would be using Japanese in another world.


    So where was she? An undiscovered place in the world? That really didn''t exist at this age.


    Sophia decided to just straight out ask.


    "Where am I?"


    "Your Holiness is currently in the Temple of Heaven. This sacred temple was built for Your Holiness while you were in your slumber. Please forgive us for this place is unbefitting of Your Holiness."


    "Why were you waiting for me to wake up? How long?"


    "Your humble servants have been waiting for two decades, ever since Your Holiness used up all your magic to save this world. Your Holiness is the world''s savior! We will wait forever just for Your Holiness to once again grace us with your presence!"


    Sophia slightly frowned. This man was saying enough ''Your Holiness''s to make her eardrums bleed.


    "Stop calling me with ''Your Holiness''. It''s annoying."


    "Yes. Whatever the Saintess orders. Your will is my command."


    "What is this world called?"


    "This is the world of Sapphire, Saintess."


    Sophia froze.


    She suddenly flashed back to an old memory she had with her husband.


    ''Hey, Rei.....why is this world named Earth? Who named it?''


    ''Haha, honey, why would you ask such a question?''


    ''I''m simply curious! Why didn''t they chose a better name? Earth sounds so dull...''


    ''What would you have named it then?''


    ''I dunno...maybe after something beautiful instead?''


    ''Like?''


    ''Hmmm.....I''ve always loved the color of Sapphire. Maybe that would work. It sounds like a pretty cringy name though huh.''


    ''It''s a beautiful name.''


    ''Liar. Don''t let me name our children in the future.''


    Sophia remembered that Rei had only chuckled in response before readily agreeing with her.


    This world was called Sapphire?


    Then, Rei...transported her consciousness into the VR game he was working on? No, were these memories even hers, or were they just implanted in her? How could he do this?


    She suddenly felt a creeping feeling wash over her, as if she was being watched by some omniscient gaze. Was he watching her right now? Was she already dead in real life?


    Sophia curled her hands into fists as she held herself back from glancing around. She stood still lost in her thoughts for few minutes before Leo hesitantly spoke up.


    "Please excuse my interruption, Saintess. But your awakening has alerted the rules of nations all over the continent. I predict they will visit soon."


    Sophia stiffly nodded and took a deep breath. A determined light glinted in her eyes.


    Whether or not she was in a VR game currently didn''t matter. If Rei had really released his game then her kids should be playing as well.


    "Get me a change of clothes, you can explain more after. I will prepare to meet these ''rulers''." She ordered with a determined glare.


    She would do anything she could to see her children again.


    Even if that means becoming this so-called Saintess.

 Chapter 57 - Carnelian

    [UPDATE PATCH


    - Players can now message internationally


    - First NPC Admin added: The Saintess


    - Increase in beginner quests


    - Various bug fixes


    - Various game elements balanced]


    Huh.


    I opened up my inventory and sighed as I looked at my various titles and stats. Some of them had been slightly ''balanced,'' but luckily nothing drastic. The biggest change was that my mask was now no longer a ''growth'' item. It was now forever stuck at Level 1.


    Looks like my dreams of becoming an NPC have been dashed.


    "Various game elements balanced... Basically just telling me that I''ve been nerfed..." I scoffed. "It sort of does make sense since they''re trying to close the gap between the first batch of players and the new batch...I guess my level is also a bit high compared to other rankers...."


    I once again sighed as I stretched and stood up from my desk.


    Yup, desk. The villagers had actually created me an office on the top floor of the town center.


    I quite like the design too. A very spacious and open circular room. I could even look out the window and see past the buildings to the outer walls (which were still currently under construction). The sun was hanging high up in the sky, causing the building roofs to glisten under the light.


    Looking down at the town square and watching a few children play around, I found myself smiling.


    As expected, NPCs are way better than real players.


    "Little Leader!"


    A sudden crash behind me made me jump up and turn towards the door.


    "Who the-.....? What are you doing?" I asked the old man who was sprawled on the ground unmoving.


    "...Whit...Stop playing dead."


    "Psh. You''re so boring. Shouldn''t you be worried about me instead?" Whit grumbled as he climbed back up to his feet.


    "I don''t see why I should. Why''re you here?"


    Whit''s eyes lit up and he quickly ran up and grasped my shoulders.


    "Name!"


    I subtly stepped back and brushed his hands off. "Hm? Name? You''ve finally forgotten even your own name? Sooner than I expected."


    "Of the town! Town name! We haven''t thought of one yet, we still call this place ''the village'' which is lame!"


    I tilted my head as I pondered his sudden declaration. A name for this town?


    "...Do we really need one?"


    ""Of course!"" Two voices called out together.


    I turned my head to the door once again and saw Vanir leaning against the door frame. I raised an eyebrow when I saw him.


    Why do people keep coming into my office uninvited?


    "Ahem. I heard a commotion and came up to check..." He drawled. "But yes, I agree with Whit. Our town will need a name to become official. We can''t just be called ''The Village'' forever."


    I''ve never been great at naming things...


    I quietly gazed out at the children who were still running around. Their laughter flowed and sounded like bells. I also spotted many a.d.u.l.ts, their parents assumingly, standing under the shade from the buildings and happily chatting while keeping an eye on their kids.


    Peace and quiet.


    A weird feeling grew in my c.h.e.s.t as I continued to watch. It was an ordinary day, but for some reason, it felt so precious. Nobody was fighting, gossiping, or crying. How long has it been since I''ve relaxed like this?


    This town was honestly the first place I''ve enjoyed being in Sapphire...and even Earth in a long time. A sincerely warm and joyful place...


    Ah! Got it.


    "Let''s name it Carnelian."


    "...Carn...Carn-what? What does that mean?"


    "A gemstone. Lingering warmth and joy. Motivation, encouragement, leadership, courage," I recited from memory. "Some people believe that wearing it helps timid people become bold and eloquent. It was also worn by ancient warriors around their necks to help them defeat their enemies. Once it was even believed to prevent plagues and illnesses."


    "Whew...you sure know your rocks!" Whit whistled while Vanir rolled his eyes. "Let''s go with that then! Carn...lia?"


    "Carnelian."


    "Ah, yes. Carnelian. A fine name was chosen by our fine Little Town Leader!"


    Now that his business was done Whit excitedly left the room, most likely to spread the news of the town''s new name. Only Vanir stayed back and continued to stare at me.


    "Need something?"


    He continued to stare. "How did you think of the name?"


    I sheepishly laughed. "I''ve always liked gemstones. Plus, Zircon is also named after a gemstone so I thought, why not? I think Carnelian is pretty fitting for this town, for us."


    Vanir simply nodded before turning and walking downstairs.


    Well, that was a bit awkward.


    I took another glance out the window and started chuckling when I saw Whit scratching his head trying to remember and teach the kids what Carnelian meant.


    [Lynx hacking?]


    [Lynx''s impossible leveling speed]


    [The secret behind the first ranker''s level?]


    I couldn''t help from laughing out loud while scrolling through the Sapphire forums on my phone.


    I''m hacking? Is it even possible to hack a VR game run by an AI? Hahaha.


    As I continued to giggle to myself, Toku leaned over the back of the couch I was slouched on and peeked at my phone.


    "Looking at the forums? Aren''t you going to go to sleep?"


    I shook my head and continued scrolling. "I''ll sleep later. The forums are hilarious."


    "...Hilarious? Aren''t the posts basically all just about the same thing? Lynx this, Lynx that...Honestly even I''m curious how his level is rising so fast. Does he have an insane grinding speed, have some special quest, or has he found a way to efficiently kill higher-leveled mobs? Although leveling for lower levels has indeed become a bit easier, it''s still at a reasonable pace."


    Uh. Well, I sure don''t know. Maybe Lynx somehow managed to get a bunch of high-leveled NPCs to grind for him through a special quest...


    Kai and my father walked through the front door as Toku was speaking and overheard his mutterings. My dad glanced at me briefly before nodding his head at Toku.


    "Indeed, Lynx is giving me quite the headache."


    Oops.