13 | Invitation
"Hmmm." Keen mumbles.
As he is looking at the Missions tab of his System, Elise is looking intently on him.
"I want to see your face clearly," she says with conviction. Her expression softens when she hears Jerud's defeated grumbling. "I mean, I can't thank you properly enough if I don't at least see your face. I won't give up, as you suggested."
Her smile is that which has loosened a burden and acquired renewed hope. Even Vi can see that much. Only Sir Isidore shows disinterest in the event.
"I have to keep my identity a secret for my assassin ability class to be efficient," Keen looks away adamantly.
"You're not assassinating people here, anyway. Take Vi for example." The elf insists.
Actually, Keen is just not fond of casually showing his face to other people. Why then, he ponders, does he feel unembarrassed to do so towards Vi?
"I — " Vi raises her hand with a poker face.
Just then, Keen drags Elise by the wrist and they both disappear.
◎◎◎
Keen doesn't let go of Elise's wrist. His other hand, however, starts to reach for his hood.
"Are you perhaps...shy?" Elise continues staring at the shadow cast by his hood over his face, then giggles.
"A face is not so important," he answers coldly.
"Still, you are the one who gave me hope. If you're the last memory I will ever have, I'll gladly — " she is breathless for a moment upon finally having a look at his face.
A minute or so passed. She is still speechless.
◎◎◎
"Don't you feel tired?" Jerud approaches Vi.
She simply shakes her head.
"Assassins are known to work on the shadows. Since she is so, she has a durability against sleeping at night." Sir Isidore lights up a bonfire before him using some twigs and an ignition spell. After doing so, he gives Jerud and Vi a glimpse. "I think it's safe to make camp now. I don't sense any nearby monster."
As the three gather around the fire, the paladin starts discussing about the assassin ability class. According to him, such has a great practical potential if not for the unique characteristic of Esprit. Since assassins mostly operate during the night, at the same time that monsters are stronger and more aggressive, being an assassin in Esprit has become one of the most unwanted ability classes.
Assassins most often convert to being scouts in actual monster raids due to their speed that even outclasses scouts themselves. However, being melee fighters becomes a drawback. To compensate, assassins act as a close combat defense of scouts. As such, the practitioners of this ability class often despise Esprit and become rogues that conduct player killing or PK to assert their strength.
"If this were some other regular game, assassins would definitely have a good role in a squad, party or guild. But in Esprit..." Jerud clenches his fist.
"It's okay. We'll finish this journey in the fastest way." Vi offers a smile. Her stomach then grumbles like a little beast.
"Ha ha! I guess a tough lass such as yourself also feel hunger." Sir Isidore searches on his Item Bag and pulls out a piece of pork meat sandwich with lettuce and a glass of milk.
"Thanks," Vi gleefully accepts the food and starts munching on the sandwich.
Sir Isidore can spare that much generosity. The two assassins allowed him to gather large amounts of gold and items. Although Keen pisses him off, he admits that the lad gave a wonderful opportunity with minimal effort for him. With this much collection, he is one leap closer to his goal. If not for his protection of Elise who casted the protection spell for the assassin duo, the boss raid would have ended in failure. Surely this much compensation is only due for him.
"You seem to be having a good bonfire chat," Elise walks out of the shadow and enters the conversation.
The three people around the bonfire all look to her direction.
The elf is wearing her hat again. Keen is behind her with his hood still hiding his visage.
"Why do you need to be so shy about it, eh?" Jerud protests bitterly.
Keen stays silent.
"It's too much for the eyes." Elise laughs dismissively.
Vi's eyes narrowly observe her.
"What?" Jerud becomes even more concerned.
The elf's smile is accompanied by red cheeks, and she is acting rather strangely. Almost as if she is somehow drunk.
"A seduction spell?" Sir Isidore clenches on his golden sword.
"No, no, no. It's not like that." Elise becomes even more suspicious in her sudden shyness, which opposes her usually composed demeanor.
Keen wants to hunt more monsters to pass the time until his System mission is finished. But the atmosphere of the people around him have become relaxed and tired. Furthermore, he has his concerns regarding the effect of his Charisma Stats to Elise.
'It has that kind of effect? It doesn't seem to be the case for Vi.' He gathers his thoughts silently.
He has been casually showing Vi his face and she doesn't show a change in behavior like Elise. In his opinion, it really is the best course to hide his face. Vampires are known on legends to have the ability to lure their preys using a mysterious charisma. This may have been considered applicable on his ability class as well.
The presence of the said stats can come in handy in the future, but it would be a liability if he let it out passively.
'This is harder than I thought.' He hisses.
"Shall we raid other places?" Vi rises on her feet with a pair of bone lance on both hands.
"I agree." Sir Isidore smirks.
Jerud nods as well.
Elise looks over her shoulder to have another look at him, then smiles briefly with her hands clasping each other behind her back.
◎◎◎
The night passed by without them noticing. Grinding monster raids throughout the Northern Forest allowed the group to sweep all monster that were level twenty and below in the area.
Vi leveled up to thirteen. The other three also leveled up.
Keen, on the other hand, savors the bounty for finishing his System Missions.
[ Mission: Train a Subordinate >> Successful! ]
[ Reward: 10,000 EXP ]
[ You have leveled up! ]
[ Mission: Consume the Beast of the Lake >> Successful!]
[ Reward: 5,000 EXP ]
[ Reward: 100,000 Gold Coins ]
[ Reward: Item (Blood Vial) ]
[ Item Description: (Blood Vial) can store up to 200mL of any liquid, but is most suitable for blood ]
[ You have leveled up! ]
[Mission: Survive the Night in Northern Forest >> Successful! ]
[ Reward: 4,000 EXP ]
[ Reward: 200,000 Gold Coins ]
[ Reward: Skill
[ You have leveled up! ]
[ New Skill
[ New Skill
◎◎◎
As soon as the sun starts shining across the field surrounding Topsy Town, Keen and Vi are back to old man Daryl's inn. After showing the gold coins from their last mission, the grumpy man's eyes sparkle and the two assassins are given the best offer to stay at the top floor.
The group who noticed the two's entrance and exit from the inn on the past night are just starting to descend the stairs and head out to the Guild Hall when they witness the scene at the service desk.
"Them again, huh?" The leader's brows twitch upon seeing the amount of gold coins the two Transfers have. "Were they the ones who dealt with the Beast of the Lake boss raid last night?"
The leader's muscular body makes even the cemented stairs of the inn to squeak, emphasized by his ease in mounting his large hexagonal shield on his back. The cat beastkin follows him flirtatiously, arms grabbing his bulky arm.
Another muscular man but with a fat belly walks behind them in his monk attire while carrying a pewter staff on one hand and foming a sutra hand stance on the other.
A skinny man covered in bandage on his limbs carrying a red scythe on his back with a single hand is whistling at Vi.
The other members of the group before him consists of a ranger with a crossbow, a snake enchanter dressed in brown robe, a blind woman with two knight familiars on her sides, and a teenage boy with a large explosives storage backpack.
The guy carrying a scythe gets ahead of himself and jumps over the group to land at Vi's side.
"Well, hello there, sunshine. You seem to be soaked in battle from yesternight. Whatever have you been doing, with this creepy man?" he winks at her then points at Keen with contempt.
"There goes Arlan again," the teenage boy with goggles latched on his forehead whines in a baritone voice. "Always the creep himself."
The ranger chuckles while one hand holds his cowboy hat.
The cat beastkin giggles while searching for the leader's reaction.
"Why are you disturbing our valued guests?" Old man Daryl frowns while gesturing for the bandaged man to leave.
"Now, now. We have been your best customers so far, old man. Why the long face?" The scythe slightly inclines sideward, as if preparing to attack.
"We will come back later. Have the room ready." Keen instructs the old man monotonously.
Seeing the two newcomers in the inn ignoring him, the bandaged guy raises a brow. But he manages to control his temper upon feeling the leader's aura aimed at him.
"We would like you to join us in a dungeon raid, if you don't mind. I think your skills will be quite useful. My name is Eron, Lion Den's guild master." The leader speaks in a resounding deep voice.
"We have more pressing matters to attend to." Keen replies without looking at the large guy.
Eron finishes the last step of the stairs with a heavy stomp that puts a dent on the ground as Keen and Vi start to head out to the inn's door.
"What can be more important than a dungeon raid? Release fragments and rare loots are a bounty in the portal dungeon in the southwest. Come on, now." The cat beastkin urges.
"My subordinate needs new and finer clothes," Keen sighs in a feigned exhaustion. "Please excuse us."
Once again, the assassin duo leaves the place like smoke dissipating in thin air.
"They are not ordinary," the blind woman stretches an arm, as if searching for something in mid-air.
"I know." Eron smiles widely. True enough, he considers grooming a fine woman with fancy clothes a true priority himself. And since he is getting bored of the clingy cat beastkin Rona, maybe he can win over that beautiful lady with cinnamon rose hair color. With sufficient promises and tempting offers, he is certain the other man will bow before him as well.