The Observer looked at me as if I had lost my mind. At least I think that this look on his face should express exactly that. His knowledge regarding mimics and human nature is a bit off at times though I did not have the heart to tell it that.
Judging by his newly generated expression, thinking it seems to be enough.
"Relax, nobody besides me would notice anything. I am certain that if any human being were to posses your knowledge it would act differently as well. "
Seems like my words were not enough to appease its mood, as it was currently busy flipping me off. I did not know that I would be a trendsetter for this particular matter. Well, this is not the kind of change I had intended to leave behind in this world, but its not a bad feeling either.
" This question will most likely be a regret of mine, but what exactly does this gesture mean? I am aware, that it has a negative connotation. "
Now it was my turn to be perplexed. Why would it ask such a ridiculous matter that had next to no influence regarding our negotiation? Wait, don't tell me that it is not the only one using this gesture. I looked at it waiting for some kind of confirmation of my theory.
" It may be part of the new gestures addon, that is being planned for the next DLC."
I could not fathom what kind of words had just lefts its temporal mouth. My fragile world view was crumbling once more. Even this sacred world was not safe from the evil business strategies known as DLC. I never told a single soul about this predatory praxis used back on Earth. You motherfucker, you spilt the beans, didn't you?
The lack of voices inside of my head was enough to prove my suspicion. Was the short term benefit worth it?
" Quit feigning ignorance, why else would you have given him access to this kind of specific memory, that serves him no purpose at all. Do you think I would be here without your bait?"
" Oh, where are my manners. Rest assured all of the information is genuine. Though I am sure, you are not interested in them directly but how I obtained them. But before we resume this serious matter, let me explain the meaning of this famous gesture."
" This gesture as you already have guessed is something coming from my former world. I am not going to bother explaining its origin to you, as that would not serve any purpose at all. Where I am from this gesture is used to tell others to fuck off.
" Since you are not familiar with the terminology fuck off, I will give you another explanation free on the house. Fuck is a derogative term for the act of reproduction. Though its usage is not restricted to this singular matter. It's quite broad, even being used to emphasize the gravity of the words that follow after. But you will find me mostly using it as a filler if I am speechless."
I made sure to explain the term with much care and detail as possible, I owed it that much.
" Adding off and the meaning turns into "Get lost". Of course, using these words is a lot more insulting then a simple get lost. If you intend to really infuriate and utterly shame your target I would advise using the term "Fuck yourself". Though the meaning would entirely go over the heads of those idiots from this world. The concept of masturbating or pleasuring yourself is not something that seems to be known in this world. No wonder they are always so warmongering."
The reply came shortly after with the usual coldness.
" The perversion of the human race knows no bounds."
" What is this "cultural exchange" not to your liking? It should be in your best interest to pay close attention to it. You might never know, what the other side of the coin is. I would not put all of my hopes in those players of yours.
The Observer was not provoked by my words and laughed at me belittingly.
" I forgot, you just observe. Your relation to those players is shallow at best, that just begs the question why do you want me to help them indirectly? I am sure, that even at such a low level my help would not be required. After all, losing or winning has no impact on either of us, so why bother?"
I could only shake my head repeatedly as I stared at the Observer. I was in no position to ask for the full truth about the things going on behind the curtain, but taking me for granted is not something that even it should do. I resumed my little speech without any emotion interfering in my delivery.
" Do you take me for an utter fool? Everything in this place just does not add up. Testing their skills in all those events and competing using humans to train their skills as a general? If you are just going to fight against those monsters you claim to be your biggest enemy, then all of this is entirely pointless, a waste of time and resources. The little bit of coordination needed can be trained without creating this kind of place."
Why would they spend this much resources rebuilding the primal world of their little planet before they gained supremacy if they did not have a god damn good reason for it? Their so-called altruism and fake generosity to train a generation to finally free themselves from the everlasting nightmare is nothing more than a poor cover-up.
Those in power would not invest so much for a foolish dream with no return. This world needs a common threat, whether it is those monsters or something entirely else. Without something to fear their entire foundation falls apart. So why would they go as far and proclaim that the victory against the monsters was soon to come? What kind of development has lead to such a decision?
Either there is no need to keep up appearances anymore and they can keep the status quo by other means. Or the situation is so fucked up, that this lie has lost its purpose. Taking everything into consideration isn't the choice to choose the name of " Primal Survival" a bit too obvious?
This world was never meant as a place to train the youth, it is likely used as a haven. This is something bigger than the Churches are willing to let the people in on. I suspect, that those people who share this little space with us are not even a real threat.
" But everything I just thought and said is just pure speculation. I neither had or will have any strength to meddle in their affairs. Quite frankly, I do not care about it at all. If this world is of any importance to the so-called Gods they will surely intervene. After all, this merely is the lowest spectrum of power in this little place. Otherwise, I would have come into contact with those guys and girls from the "beta" test."
Despite being on death's door multiple times, the things I lived through that day are something else.
"That day" I still can remember it vividly. Although I prefer not to dwell on those memories. If I were to die, then I had no hopes of respawning. That was some of the words you left me with. Those multiple deaths I felt would have been enough to kill me multiple times, yet I am still standing here. I won't buy the excuse, that you were able to set me back together by generating a new body for me over and over again before inserting me into that body.
The torture I felt that day was not something those players could have come up with. I have come into contact with numerous players none of them even remotely had any knowledge about the nature of their bodies. It's all magic here and magic there. But someone just like that is speaking about nerves and their inner workings. Strangely I have no memories of the torture that followed afterwards and I only saw what happened to myself by watching a video.
Seems odd, that I have no recollection of said events if I still remember the first part so clearly. A place, in which you had absolute control as you have claimed prior. A video of a baby body being tortured in a manner that came from my former world and not this one.
Was everything that I lived through on that fateful day, something set up, something fabricated? Seems quite likely if I think about it. Those beta testers would never torture people in such a barbaric fashion. In a culture like theirs that glorifies magic and faith, they would never lower themselves and dirty their hands doing something like that.
Whether those morons truly exist or not it is subsidiary. It all fits perfectly the voice, telling me to man up and being used as a lure to bait a fish monster only to wake up in the real world.
" Oh took you long enough to figure that out."
" I would not stand here if I had done so. I would have been discarded, the version of myself from back then was not something of any use to you. Though it was easy to manipulate me to do your bidding."
The Observer shook his head.
" You still do not fully understand me. All of this was necessary to make a real NPC out of you"
A necessity huh? I still had no idea, why all of that had to be done. It had not anticipated that my little tenant would make my body his new home. Or is it due to this anomaly, that it pays that much attention to me?
A real NPC? Certainly, a weird way to phrase it, as if the NPC I have met till now can not be considered to be real. Either he hints at there a lot more weird cases such as myself or the other NPCs lack the strength to be considered a real threat.
" You can relax, there are no more anomalies like you. Something like you can not exist outside out of this realm. But just because you are unique does not make you special. There are a lot of real NPCs out there. "
While this revelation was not something that I had expected it was far from causing an emotional stir inside of me. Without any morals or ambition dictating my actions, I would not bother with those special NPCs.
The Observer did not react to my thoughts and resumed speaking.
" Disregarding the lack of emotional investment in this cause. I would like to remind you, that you can not avoid coming into contact with them. there are no doubts, that their approach towards you will differ a lot from yours."
While my plans may seem myopic, one should not forget that even the system itself is not able to recognize my strength. Those who seek strong opponents will not care about something as lowly as me in the slightest and those who indulge themselves in slaughter will be taken care of when they let their guard down.
If I were to die in the end, then I had no room to complain either way. First and foremost, those NPCs are not interested in other NPCs but players. And the players would drop everything to fight a good enemy, I know that from firsthand experience. If they are busy I am left with even more peace and serenity since everyone else is busy.
Be it monsters, players or real NPCs, every one of these will have a lot of blood on their hands. But I doubt they would go out of their way to seek out someone as lowly as me. I believe in myself to be able to resist the ones who do.
But the future is uncertain. Who knows what kind of strange or mysterious developments occur? It might be possible with time magic, but I have yet to see someone using it. Until then it remains nothing more than speculation.
I will just have to wait and see what awaits me, after all, you still hold back a lot of knowledge about this strange plane of existence. Only time can tell what will happen.
The Observer finally lost his calm appearance and began to cut to the chase.
" As much as I like your theories and vivid imagination, can we return to the subject at hand and not waste any more time on these useless half-truths?"
Well seems like my theories fall on deaf ears. Most of the stuff I just said was just meant to provoke the Observer and to get some information out of him it had likely withheld from me. Whether or not a foreign group was waiting at the end of the competition I truly did not know. The case of special NPCs is something I will have to look after. Regarding my first hours inside of this world, was not something that mattered to me, using it as emotional leverage failed horrendously.
" We can, I do not mind. Though I was not trying to ridicule you, all of those requests are valid."
" Sorry after uttering over 100 requests I doubt the sincerity of your words. "
Even though the number may sound astounding I just gave all the requirements for my potential strategies for the upcoming task at hand.
" Potential Strategies you say. Let us see request #35 Experience can be bought by gold. Why would you need something like this?"
" I wanted to have a way to strengthen the NPCs I could have hired for my master if their numbers are too low for the other methodology. Of course, I also suggested other possibilities if somethings can not be arranged."
" You mean #40 and #43? Proposing that NPCs can get experience by killing players and monsters, although you knew that those things were already in place. Though I can not honour your request to hire a monster with gold aswell.
" Though that means that #44 can be achieved that is nice to know."
" That is if you can accomplish that."
" I have my ways you know."
#44 Was a simple request, that states that monsters can be tamed. I have no ideas what kind fo weaponry or strategies I might have to use. All of my requests the random the might seem to cover a possibility.
" Furthermore I can not tell you more about the event than was to the others, also I can not tell you about the last event. Meaning your requests #60 and #66 invalid. Though I do wonder what made you come up with request #1 and why do you put so much emphasize on it."
" Why would you want to be able to hire NPCs so badly? Everybody else can do it, so why would you want to do so as well?"
"I just want to have a little army myself is that so wrong?"
We both know that these were a lie. But it did not know, how much stood behind that little sentence. It would take long before it would realize, what can be done. But it would be too late by then.