A risky bet
After the mess that happened due to my carelessness, Kaule and I took a free table in the guild tavern area and decided to wait for Raild and Adrick to return. I still don't know if it was a good idea to let them take care of it, but it's better than letting them take care of filling in the details on this form. The attendant, Anne, gave us a magic quill that she writes without needing ink and said that as soon as we finish filling out the document we will have to wait to get an appointment with the owner of this Guild, Ms. Vinna, who will check if we are able to open a daughter guild or not. I sat and leaned over the table, not knowing if that was what we wanted. People who don't join guilds prefer to act alone and therefore it doesn't have a high cost of living, but those of us who are in a group end up being very unproductive.
Our other option is to join another existing guild: Hunters, Bronze Dragon, White Roses, Magic Machine or the most famous of all…
- Get out of the way! The leader of the Royal Knights is passing by!!
Speaking of them...
A bunch of knights in red uniforms began to make way for a blond boy to pass to the direction of the service desk. He appears to be an elf… no… a half-elf, with a very elegant look and a sword that is not only big but also dangerous, he is also wearing top quality equipment that goes far beyond just looks. He must be from the Fortius division and his level must be very high, as his presence is not just a pretty face, but a true commander!
- Welcome back, Lord Endragon! How was your mission? (Anne)
- A great afternoon for you, Miss Anne. I am grateful for your concern, the mission was successful and so I would like to speak with Ms. Vinna! (Mr. Endragon)
- Certainly! She is waiting for you on the third floor in her living room! Thanks for your efforts! (Anne)
He made a grateful knight's gesture and walked towards the stairs.
Watching this whole scene left my eyes with a sugar overdose. But his guild is the most famous from what I've noticed. In the Ranking list it is in first place and just being able to see the leader himself with his escort of ten soldiers made it possible to see that they are indeed extremely strong. I hope we don't face them in the near future…
Hmm? He has stopped going up the stairs and is… looking at me?…
I'll pretend I didn't see anything...
I stare at the document, trying to look unconcerned, but it doesn't seem to work... It's getting closer and closer!
- Excuse me, gentlemen! (Mr. Endragon)
- I think you confused the table! (Me)
- You insolent, how dare you talk to... (guard)
Endragon waved his hand for the guard to stop...
- How can we help, Lord Endragon, leader of the Royal Knights!? (Kaule)
- ~Kaule!...~ (Me)
- I wanted to make a proposal to this young man with gray hair! (Mr. Endragon)
- Proposal? (Me)
- Join my guild! (Mr. Endragon)
- Sir! What are you doing?! (Guard)
- Sorry, but I'll have to refuse. (Me)
- You insolent without… (guard)
And he gestured again and asked the guard to wait for him on the stairs… The guard looked frustrated, but obeyed.
- Could you tell me why? (Mr. Endragon)
- I already have a group of companions that I'm not willing to change! (Me)
- And if I told everyone to join my guild, would you accept? (Mr. Endragon)
That was a phrase that shot into my head… All of us getting into the best guild, that easy? There's something wrong with all this...
- Sorry for the boldness, but could you at least tell us the reason for all this? (Me)
- Let's say that I can see a great potential in you that cannot be wasted, besides you made sure that I realized how important this sword is that you are… (Mr. Endragon)
Damn, this place is totally different now than it was before. I can't just walk around without any preparation.
- … besides, I feel that you are a very familiar person and that I have seen you somewhere… could you tell me your name? (Mr. Endragon)
- ...Lyunil.
- Nice to meet you, Lyunil. My name is Argie Endragon, if you want you can just call me Argie. But our conversation will unfortunately have to end, if you are interested in my proposal come to my guild and I will welcome you as part of my family! But now I have important matters to talk to the owner of this place, with your permission. (Argie)
And he retreated to the stairs and this time he climbed without looking back.
I think if I don't get out of here soon I'll end up getting in more trouble...
- Lyunil, who was the syrupy prince who was talking to you? (Raild)
Finally they arrived!
- Why did they take so long? (Me)
- The lazy boar was in an intense fight to get a quest. Their panel is really crazy! (Adrick)
- The amount of quests that come up and are chosen is insane, every time I tried to choose a quest someone would touch it before me... (Raild)
- Did you play? (Kaule)
- Quests are presented just like the panel on this bracelet, so when you tap it and confirm that you want it, it magically disappears from their panel and enters our panel, but I wasn't lucky this time… ;-; (Raild)
- You're never lucky! But I managed to get us a good one! HAHAHA (Adrick)
- You just tapped one randomly and ended up getting something reasonable, don't be thinking! (Raild)
- What did you get? (Kaule)
- Ta-daaa! Delivery service from a restaurant! (Adrick)
He showed the quest to everyone through his bracelet. For every delivery we make to a (apparently famous) restaurant, we will each receive 20 silver coins. It really is very reasonable and if you have enough deliveries it will be of great help…
- And you, what did you get? (Raild)
- The attendant Anne explained a lot to us and gave us this document in case we want to form a new guild. Furthermore, Lyunil got into a fight with a half human-animal and received an offer from the leader of the Royal Knights! (Kaule)
- No need to say fight and it wasn't really a proposal, it was more an invitation for us to join his guild… (Me)
- WHAT? AND YOU ACCEPTED?! (Raild)
- No.
- WHAT?!! WHY?! THIS WAS OUR CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN ITSELF WITHOUT EFFORT!!! (Raild)
- I think you just answered what I was going to say… Besides, weren't you the ones who were giving sermons about not trusting others who help without wanting anything in return?
- You're right... ;-; We focus on opening our guild then. (Raild)
- So let's go! (Adrick)
- Unfortunately it's not that simple, we need to fulfill some requirements and be able to pay the initial fee... (Kaule)
- How much is the fee? (Raild)
- 2 platinum coins… (Me)
- (￣ ￣|||) (Raild)
- As it needs five members, so it would be 40 gold coins for each member… (Kaule)
- Does it mean that the more people join our guild, the easier it is for us to pay? (Adrick)
- Almost that... (Me)
- So let's get more people! (Adrick)
- And how do you intend to do that, you banana brain?! (Raild)
- Daizou said we could spend tonight at his house. Let's take advantage of his kindness and ask some questions to get tips that will help us. Tomorrow we think better of what to do! (Me)
- I agree, we should take it easy on the first day and prevent more disasters from happening because of Lyunil! (Kaule)
- I don't do this because I want to... (╥﹏╥) (Me)
***
We spent the rest of the afternoon until nightfall talking to Daizou at his house. He really is a good person and he warmly welcomed us. As we didn't have money, we decided to repay it with domestic help and other small tasks that we were allowed to do. He explained to us about various things that happen in the Tower and that this information is not disclosed on purpose by the system, as part of the challenges and making players learn to evolve in their own way without any help they leave in the comfort zone.
He told several things about his adventures to the top of the Tower, how he got there, and that his wish was indeed granted. This made the other three even more excited. It was a really nice moment after so long without having a kind of interaction like that.
He also explained what the player status acronyms mean:
TP = Tower Player;
TW = Tower Winner;
TS = Tower Servant;
TR = Tower Resident.
These are the familiar acronyms. TPs are players like us or those we meet in the master guild, like Argie or that girl. The TWs are people who have already reached the top of the Tower and achieved their wishes like Daizou and he revealed to us that Doctor Arcane has too. The TSs are specific people who work for the Tower and the system, not necessarily made it to the top, but decided to become her servants, I imagine that's Scaren's situation. And the TRs are the inhabitants of the Tower, Daizou has told us that there are some people who call them NPCs, I don't know what that means, but it's the people from the village, I mean the realm of Trinty, who don't participate in the challenges of the Tower, but they live for it as part of a people whose king is the Tower…
Now I can better understand everyone's situation. Really, everyone has their motives and ambitions. There are people whose desires are simple and others who have deep desires. People who sacrifice everything to get any kind of thing: a truth, an object, a condition, a life… It made me think that I'm still quite far from completing my journey, but I can better understand the depth of it. Before I just wanted to find an excuse to die soon, to run away from my responsibilities because of the things I did, but now this is starting to turn into a flame of what I really should be looking for.
I decided to stay here outside the house admiring the new sky of this place, it's really much more starry than it was before…
- So this is where you were, Lyunil… (Daizou)
- I wanted to take a look at the sky while I enjoy the air outside.
- I understand you, this sky is really pretty, although the other levels also have skies that are pretty amazing.
...
- Daizou, what do you think about people's wishes? Is it something people can't control? Or is it possible that someone doesn't want anything?
- Why such a question now?
- I don't know why I came to this Tower, in my head there's nothing I want and looking at the people around me I feel like I'm in a place that's totally not for me... I can understand why I'm the weakest person here , because I have nothing to want to fight or protect! A person who fights for something or someone is already someone very strong, but bringing all these types of people together in one place is really a source of discouragement for me....
- Hmmm… I see… you're really right about that…
…
- But that doesn't mean that just because you don't want anything you don't have anything you want to fight for.
What does he mean by that?
- Does the reason you are here with them show this, or are you using them to reach the top of the Tower?
- No! On the contrary, I want to help them reach the top of the Tower!
- It's because?
- Because that's the right one! They helped me and struggled for me so that I could stay alive, so I must help them too… After all I have nothing else to do, using my life to help them ends up giving more value than I could deserve.
- You speak as if you wish you hadn't existed...
- I made an irreparable mistake in my past and instead of being punished I was saved and acted like a coward, but when I got here my view of everything changed and now I want to accept my punishment properly even if it is the most painful death, because this it's right and my duty…
- And why do you believe that doing the right thing is the best way?
- Doing what's wrong was never difficult, I could see how easy it was to have lost everything in one day and run away from my responsibility. But the consequences it brings is something that rips and devours you from the inside out… But when I could do something to help someone I felt that even a destroyed soul like mine could be restored! Getting it right will never be easy, but it has the best of all rewards...
…
He seems to have been sad, was it because of what I said?
- You know, Lyunil… you're a good person and for saying that kind of thing it's because your heart is more transparent than you think… I also committed crimes that can't go back anymore and for purely selfish reasons and just as you want to repair that…
- But you managed to reach the top of the Tower!
- … I'll tell you something that I won't tell the others, because I don't want them to go into shock…
- What are you trying to say?
- ...When I reached the top of the Tower I was sure of what I wanted, but after my wish was granted it wasn't happiness I got, but an anguish that I keep inside me to this day. Whoever is at the top of this Tower is not God and therefore does not perform miracles, but I only realized this too late... It was then that I discovered that not always what we want is what we really need, but I didn't realize it in time and now I am here reaping what I sowed…
- Sorry for the boldness, but what happened?
- I'll leave this story for another time… go to sleep, Lyunil, because tomorrow will be a very tiring day…
And he entered the house again without saying anything else… by his expression, he looked haunted by his own thoughts…
...
- Finally he left...
This voice!! It can not be…
- Hey boy!?
- Scaren!? What are you doing here?!
- Relax, boy, and put that sword away, I didn't come to fight.
- Do you think you can come like this after what you did to us?
- I think I already told you that I'm an appraiser, it was my job to do that!
- ...Hmm…
I keep Jadi.
- That punch you gave me is hurting so far!
- It's your fault for touching my jacket that time. But I'm not here to talk about your injuries.
- And what did you come to do then?!
…
- I came for three reasons: the first is to say that I didn't give up looking for what I want with you, but I think I did it the wrong way...
He then took out two objects that were hidden behind his back and handed it to me.
- So I decided to give this scabbard and this amulet to you as a form of payment for us to close a deal.
- Why are you giving me a scabbard and an amulet?
- It's not just any sheath and amulet. They have properties so you don't walk around with two heavenly treasures in a sloppy way! You're lucky you haven't died yet from item dealers.
- Oh… Thank you… But what would that deal be?
- I'll keep watching you.
- Did you not know the meaning of privacy? So you've been watching me so far without receiving orders from the Tower?
- I didn't give you these gifts for nothing. And the second reason is that I heard what you were talking about and I still don't understand what you mean by that!
He doesn't really know what privacy means (-_-;)・・・
- And why all this obsession?
- Because this is the last thing I should do for my master, he left me a lesson that I can't understand, but he told me that someone would help me understand it and after having heard what you said, I realized that you are really the person my master was talking about!
- But I don't even know your master!
- I know, is that he could see things that simply a normal human being could never, but don't worry about details.
- So all I have to do is give my consent to you to be watching me? Still, that wouldn't give me any peace, how am I going to attend to my needs without thinking that someone is watching me!
- I didn't mean in that sense!
- I know, but I can't guarantee...
- What do you propose then?
- Join me on my journey!
- What?
- I'm also looking for answers and I'm sure I'll better demonstrate what you're looking for with actions than words!
- But I don't want to climb the Tower to fulfill a wish!
- Me either!
- .............
- What do you say?
- … You really are someone incomprehensible! I'll think about it later...
- Think about it, I'll return your gifts until...
- Stay, they're really for you.
- … Thank you… And what is the third reason?
- To be careful with Daizou.
- Be careful? Because?
- He was known as a rookie killer.
- What? Is this serious? Scaren!...
But he walked away without looking back and withdrew…
Is Daizou a murderer? Is that what he meant by crime at the time?
But he said he's trying to make amends for the crime he committed… but even so, after hearing this, I just can't believe it's nothing!
PoV - Scaren
Now that I told you this, boy. Show me what you'll do! Depending on what you do I will accept your proposal to join you, but until then I will be waiting for your response...
***
PoV - Lyunil
I couldn't sleep well at night after listening to what Scaren said about Daizou... But nothing happened during the night and I'm starting to think it was just a bad joke Scaren made to tease me... that cranky wolf is going to have what he deserves if he did it just to not let me sleep!
When we woke up early we went straight to the quest restaurant place to start the deliveries and found out that the restaurant owner is José the baker of the small village that is now a kingdom. It has really come a long way and it looks like the other merchants should also have even bigger stores with more services. I don't think I can get used to all this easily...
We talked to José and he told us about the news, then told us to make 14 deliveries in places marked on the map he gave us!
This is good for us who don't know the region, so we can learn more about this place and with the 14 deliveries we will get 280 silver coins so that we can pay our expenses for… three days…
-- Ah….
- Sighing so early, Lyunil? (Kaule)
-- Our complicated life without money is just beginning and just thinking about how long it takes to open a new guild makes my soul tired… (Me)
This time I will be stricter with Adrick and Raild so that they don't spend more than necessary!!!
***
We started walking the streets all together so we didn't get lost… but it wasn't enough and we always went into an alley if we didn't understand the map accurately. We found some bandits along the way that served as training for us, we learned how to use the PEI (that small cube we put in our eyes) and we saw that the bandits are quite weak compared to us. We hadn't noticed before, we reached level 24 while the bandits were 21 (with TR status), they gained new abilities and the skill Radiant Cut appeared in my abilities list, is my ability to create other abilities? (✧ω✧)
I certainly think I'm dreaming too much, but the fact that an ability I made up the name has been added to the list of my abilities is something I'm really happy about! Finally I don't feel like someone defective! But I'm still right behind them, who already have at least three skills....
But that's not something I need to worry about right now, plus there's that ability "Speed of Light" and "One Hundred Cuts of Light", I just need to learn how I did with Radiant Cut!
We decided to split each one up to a place, so we'll finish our quest faster. We all use PEI and record the map to know where we need to go.
If I'm not mistaken, it's this way...
I turn right, head towards a red house that is on a corner and turn right again and I will find a park bench with a woman sitting on it. Looks like she's the client...
- Good morning, Miss! I'm a delivery boy for Padourant, a restaurant in the center of this district, and I brought your order!
She turned to me.
- Good day to you too, young boy! Thank you so much for bringing my order!
Wow, what a pretty girl! She appears to be an elf, but in a different way than Kaule...except for her outfit and equipment, she must have the same class as Kaule. Her name is Lia... Naila... TP? So you're a player too?!
- Everything is fine? (Lia)
- Ah… it's nothing! In total your order gave 50 silver coins!
She handed me the money.
- Thank you very much and enjoy, Miss Naila!
- Thank you!
And I turned around to go to the next delivery. But…
- Wait a minute boy, are you the one who will face "Furry in Fury" today? (Lia)
I turned back to her.
- Who?
- The girl you stepped on her tail!
- You must have got it wrong! That was by accident… How do you know that? Damn it, has rumors been spread about me all over the kingdom?! I'm lost...
- … haha … stay calm, I was only present at the guild yesterday when I saw the scene!
- Aaaahhh… that's good! But what did you call her?
- It's the nickname she got because of the duels. She is called "Furry in Fury" in the arena.
- Urgh… that means it's not the first time she's done a duel with someone…
- Definitely not and she never lost one! (*^ω^)
Lady, you give a smile that after saying this only makes the situation worse !!!
- And many times she has dueled? ......
- More than twenty…
- (× _ ×)
- ... just this month, if I'm not mistaken!
- (× Δ × |||)
Why does the world have to be so cruel to me?!
- But please try to be friendly with her...
- Hm? You know her?
- No, I only see her from afar at times… but I know she is a very kind person… unfortunately she has to be like that if she wants to continue on her path…
-… Right! You can leave it to me!
- Thank you very much, umm...
- Lyunil!
She now smiled in a way more comforting to look at!
- Thank you very much, Lyunil. She doesn't know it, but she sues me for some stuff without her knowing. I don't have the courage to talk to her directly, but for some reason I feel I can trust you with this…
- I won't let you down, Miss Naila!
I gave a big confident smile in return!
- Accept this in return for your favor!
She then gave me a coin… wait, a platinum coin?!
- But, miss… I can't…
- Rest assured, I don't worry too much about money and I know you will make good use of this coin more than if it was kept with me!
- Thank you very much, Miss! I will accept your gratitude and return the favor you asked me for!
- Of course, I hope it can help her see the world in a different way!
I nodded.
I thanked her again for her kindness and said goodbye appropriately.
Then continue with the delivery work, but this time with an idea and a smile!
***
After we finished making deliveries, we gathered back at the restaurant and received our payment. I took the opportunity to explain what happened to the three of them and showed them the coin I received from Miss Naila. We then discussed what to do next and I explained the idea I had.
While I'm busy with the duel they will look for more places and information in the realm about where we can spend the night and how we can get more money. And I explained what I also intend to do about the duel and the girl, but there is still a detail… how am I going to win in a duel of someone who is undefeated in victories!? This difference in experience is overwhelming and if I don't get a plan by the time I will be lost!
As it was lunchtime, we decided to eat at the restaurant with the money we received from the payment, but preferably something that was very cheap…
But time passed and I didn't have any idea what to do. I broke away from them and started walking towards the duel site. At first I wanted to just ignore this pointless duel, but you asked me for a favor and rewarded us with a platinum coin, now I can't just give it up. But I have no idea how I can beat a veteran in duels (T-T)...
Though it's a little funny to say that about her. He's a little shorter than me and makes me want to pet her instead of wanting to fight, almost like a helpless little sister... but those eyes and that anger made me realize that there's a cold, tyrannical empress spirit inside that one cuteness… and that's even more frightening!!!
/chills.../
Anyway, thinking about it won't help me with what I need, if I only knew how my class works, or the sword, or this Sacri… and now there's another new item on Lyunil's list of mysteries: by that they said I can change my hair color to black, but that only happened when I was extremely angry at that time... if anything related to my feelings, I don't think it will work now in this fight... then I should to do?
<< I think you need help, isn't that right Lyunil?! >>
What? You are? ... wait, this voice ...
<< Hey! How much time?! >>
TIRUS?! LIKE ?! ARE YOU STILL ALIVE ???
<< Let's say I didn't die, because Imeruans don't die, but from the place I am I can talk to you in a few moments... Besides, I had told you that I would be with you on your mission, don't belittle the word of an Imeruani ! >>
I am so happy to hear your voice again! The time we were together was so short and I couldn't even apologize for doing all that to you and beyond that…
/ Sniff! /
Me...
<< Well, you don't need to get emotional now at a time like this! >>
I'm really happy… to be able to hear it again! ...
<< I'm glad about that, but let's talk about these things another time! Right now I came to help you with this little problem! >>
Right! Do you have any plans?
<< Let's say I'll give you a little help with the powers I lent you >>
Will you use me how to use Sacri?!
<< Impossible at the moment! The Sacri I gave you is incomplete, you will need the rest of it to be able to use it permanently >>
So why it didn't work again in the coliseum...
<< You'll get more information about this from my sister Alest, but for now I'll help by expanding the Earth Blessing as an enhancement to your body >>
What does that mean?
<< You will understand, just follow this plan I will tell you >>
Okay, but why are you doing all this just because of a duel like this? It's just a misunderstanding that happened…
<< What I can tell you is that my father said she will be a very important key person in the future >>
What does that mean?
<< I don't even know, but if it was my father who told me then it's because it's true! But let's focus on the plan now as we don't have much time >>
Okay… what should I do?
***
I ended up not having time to buy more items for combat and I went straight to the arena (which Daizou taught me where it is). I managed to get there just in time!
The arena, like all the places I've seen so far, is also huge and reminds me a lot of that coliseum we faced at level 1 that time, but the difference in style is extremely noticeable, it's as if they were designed by architects who are brothers whose thinking is totally different, but the essence is the same...
I came in from one side and she's in front of me coming from the other side. We both entered the fighting field.
- Thank you for coming! It saves me the trouble of going after you! (furry in fury)
- I couldn't ignore it so easily... (Me)
- Lucky for you I changed my mind, and decided that instead of destroying you whole, I decided to make a bet with you!
- I don't know if I should feel honored or afraid...
- We will follow the dueling rules of the Tower and whoever loses will be the slave of the other!
- What?!
- Unfortunately I need more people to do a job and I thought this is a much better opportunity than hiring someone for an unfair price!
- Are you at least aware of what you said? (º -º l|l)
- I know perfectly well what I said! (`з´)
- But I said it was by accident, besides I don't want to fight with you!
- It's no use coming with blackmail anymore and if you want you can blame fate for having made you come here! I won't change my mind about getting someone to help me!
- Wouldn't it be easier to ask someone politely?
- You don't understand, it's not as simple as you think…
He changed his expression to a sad and disappointed face… now I understand better what you meant, Naila… she must have had not-good experiences…
- Since you don't agree, then I'll put more conditions! Whoever loses will have to call the winner "master"! And if you keep refusing I'll put even more conditions until you accept!!!!!
- OK! OK! I get it, no need to say anything else... I'll accept your bet, but only if you tell me how long it has to last?
- Until the "master" is satisfied! Tehee (￣ω￣)
How can she change her expression so easily?... {Note: by Lyunil - the multi sentimental guy}
- I understood! I accept your bet...
- Huh! So now we can start our duel!
I definitely can't lose it!