A Mirror Reflection But Opposite Mindset
So what? I decided to wear my old clothes? Sweatpants and jackets are way more comfortable than any medieval garment will ever be. It's my clothes in any case so I should be able to wear them whenever I want.
I decided to keep on my little cloak thingy. I don't know, I just feel like it helps with the whole medieval aesthetic. It's too bad Ren treats them as artifacts and decides to hide them away. I get why it's just annoying.
"Slice"
She's just so focused on the idea of getting back that it's kinda concerning. I didn't even need to sneak out of the house. I knew where she was because I saw the hatch to the underground room open.
"Slice"
Wich, by the way, she's making some interesting progress. Now I'm not sure if it's going to work but I can only hope it does. For her anyway.
"Slice"
Hmm? You wana to know what I'm doing? Oh, I'm glad you asked, you see I'm just doing my nightly pass through slime fields. It's of course as grassy and fieldy as ever. With also that hint of chilly winds to top it off.
I've also decided to test out my appraisal skill a bit more and guess what? Just watch this.
"Appraisal!"
Strength 1
Speed 1
Defense 2
Intelligence 1
Pretty cool right? Being able to see monsters' stats screen is really something.
Right now I'm testing out my new sword on some foolish slimes. Seeing as this is kinda my job I guess you could say I'm working? The sword by the way I decided to give it a name. It's becoming quite a habit lately; giving names that is.
Me and my trusty sword nova shall vanquish thay foe! I mean I think it's kinda basic but not the worst…
Now I'm curious about what I should name you. A person able to read my thoughts and the one who's been with me in my journey so far. Hmm, hold on let me think…
Maybe mind reader? Sounds more like a title than a name but you probably already have a name so naming you would feel weird I just want something to call you.
Well just to let you know I'm doing a little more than killing some slimes tonight. Tonight I feel like being a bit more adventurous. You see, looking to the left of the road is a forest. What I'm hoping is that this forest will have something more than just some slimes.
I've already maxed out on slimes. I mean I got pretty far. But uhh.
Strength 67
Speed 80
Defense 50
Intelligence 46
Quick learner(Rank E) Advanced Appraisal(Rank E)
I'm not really getting anything more after this point, hence why I'm going to the goblin forest, as I've named it.
So after killing a few slimes and making sure to get their gems, I move closer and closer to the forest. Of course not forgetting to leave some for Kira, my slime buddy who gratefully eats the remaining slime gems.
Before leaving I make sure to give my little slime friend a head pat. In turn the slime response with a warm pleasant feeling. Man I wish I could keep you but I feel like Ren might not like you, maybe another day-or ah night I guess.
I follow the road a short distance and pivot directly towards the dense forest which only got more and more menacing. Why did I decide to do everything at night? The forest itself wasn't super dense or anything I could easily walk through it.
It's just that the little light I had only got even worse looking into the forest as only black filled my eyes the farther I looked in. Gripping my sword tighter I take a short breath in and step inside the forest…
I start with an extremely slow walk making sure to wait after every step to listen. After getting more comfortable I continue my journey at a slow walk. The deeper I go the darker and darker it seems to get.
Damn, I feel like if I was in a horror movie I would definitely be killed off first. It's also not helping that I just remembered what that lady guard had said to me. Something like people died at night a few years ago?
Welp man this forest is just too dark now I really don't see any reason to continue any further it would just be a waste. As soon as I get ready to turn away I hear a robotic voice say something.
Plans have changed ladies and gentlemen our forest adventure does not end here! Ehhh.
Activating the new skill it indeed makes everything a bit brighter and gives everything a nice light blue tint. Going into the forest I'm able to see the variety of trees much better and other small details.
After a bit of walking, something catches my newly brightened eyes. A small hunched-over green goblin about ten feet in front of me. I almost hadn't noticed it since it was sleeping on the ground.
It's so interesting to see so many fantasy monsters come to life like this. I wonder what other monsters may lie in this forest. Ahh, non of that right now I have to focus on this goblin.
Its club is off to the side of it and seeing how it's totally unconscious right now, it's defenseless. So I walk over to it with my sword nova in hand.
I quietly kick away the club making sure not to awaken it. For some reason, I can feel my heart start to race as I stand over it. It should be an easy kill so what's wrong am I scared? No, it should be fine.
I stand over the goblin and raise nova above it. My heart starts going faster and my breath, is uneven. I grip my sword tighter. Come on, you got this. It's just an ugly goblin-just an ugly goblin. Ok on the count of three.
"One"
...
"Two"
…
"Three!"
Opening my eyes I thrust downwards directly at the goblin. An impact sound soon followed. What happened next should have been some screams and blood, maybe even some last words…
That's of course what should have happened. Nova was not plunged into the goblin but instead into the ground right beside him. Miraculously the sleeping goblin stayed blissfully unaware and stayed sleeping.
Well whoops haha I should have guessed this would have happened. Seeing how I missed on purpose I must really not be into this whole killing thing. It's just that I-
"It's what?"
Suddenly I hear a voice but it doesn't sound like Mr. Mind Reader nor Ren or anyone I've met before. Instead, It kinda sounds like… Me? I stand there silently trying to figure out what just happened.
"No, please continue. I would love to know why."
I look and notice two things. One the entirety of my surroundings had turned black like a black void. My new skill doesn't do anything to brighten this darkness. Also, the chill of nighttime vanishes instead now it feels totally room temp.
The second thing I notice Is a person sitting on a chair. His entire outfit looks completely black and looks kinda edgy in a way. His face however looks entirely like mine, the only difference being his red eyes.
Noticing his red-colored eyes makes him seem even edgier than before. If he had some long hair and black makeup he would totally fit in a rock group.
"I find that a bit rude coming from a shut-in loser."
Wait a minute did he just read my mind??? Does that mean that he's Mr-
"No, I am not Mr. Mind reader. That "thing" is not capable of physically interacting with me or you."
Oh well, that's a bummer I guess the mystery continues. What I'm more interested in now is who this person is so I start with a simple question.
"Well then who are you then?"
"That's simple, I'm you."
In return, I get a simple yet confusing answer. He's me, what does that even mean. This whole situation is just totally weird. It really reminds me of a dream. Oh, a dream!
"Ohh I think I know what's going on now."
"You-you do?"
"Of course, I must have passed out and this is some dream. Wow, I always wanted to be conscious and do whatever I want during a dream."
The other person shows a face of confusion and puts his hand up to his face. What was that not it? I'm positive that this is what's going on. Ha wink.
"To keep it simple no this is not a dream, this is my uhh realm, let's say."
"Realm?"
"Ahh never mind that it's time to talk about why I brought you here."
Why he brought me here? That's a good question. Why would he do that? Thinking about it, it's kinda rude.
"You see Akari, your progress so far has been let's say, non-impressive."
"Do you really think so? I think I'm doing a great job."
After that, the similar-looking person gives me a confused look. I guess I'll have to convince him.
"For someone that just got plopped in an entirely new situation, I think I'm doing great. I mean stat-wise I'm five times as strong as when I first came here."
The other person seems to only be getting more annoyed. Maybe I should try something else.
"I will admit I've been slacking a bit befriending a slime, fighting with my sister, and naming things. Speaking of naming things, how about a name for you? How about Akari number 2?"
"Akari stop."
Startled, I completely lose my train of thought.
"You were unable to kill a slime but instead befriended it and now you were unable to kill a defenseless piece of trash? Huh If anything that's the opposite of progress."
I mean it's fine to only have one slime as a friend right? And that was my first time with a goblin. I'll have a second chance...
"Do you have any idea-!"
Akari number 2 takes in a deep breath and sits down back in his chair. After a bit of a pause, he speaks again.
"Akari, what did you promise yourself you'll do?"
Huh? Uh, that dumb thing. Come on, you don't want me to say it, do you? It seems kinda childish to bring it up now...
"What did you promise yourself Akari?!"
"I don't know. Something about a beach I guess?"
"Exactly to become- wait what? Did you just say you promised you would get a beach episode?"
I nod my head.
"I see… Anyway, how do you plan to do that when you refuse to kill a helpless goblin?"
"Well, I uhh need more time ya know?"
"Akari, listen, don't you see what wasting more time does? You remember that old man don't you?"
Suddenly I remember that old drunk guy and how easily he was able to beat me. I mean looking at it like that he's not totally wrong.
"I mean I guess..."
"Or how about your own sister? Even she was able to get stronger than you."
...
"Akari look time is not on our side here."
Akari number 2 gets out of his seat and walks over to me and puts his hand on my shoulder.
"If you're serious about this you take that sword and you kill that goblin."
He walks by me as he says that and suddenly my surroundings totally change once again I return to the creepy cold forest I had just been in before. In my hand, my sword, and on the ground is a defenseless goblin.
"Goodbye" Is the last thing I hear from him before all my surroundings turn back to normal.
…
Killing things…
Is bad…
That's pretty obvious but things here are different...
Akari number two may have been pretty rude about it but he's not entirely wrong. He just needs a better way to express his point.
He might be wrong about how hard I'm trying though. I've always tried my hardest, haven't I? I've always given things my all right?
…
He's kinda right you know? Time is not on my side here. I know I shouldn't keep wasting time like this. I shouldn't be struggling to kill a simple goblin!
…
It's not like it's my fault though. Where I came from killing was inherently bad. There was no need for it. I guess you could say I was pampered. Heh. It's a bit hard to adjust.
But this is different. I need to do this. Here, in this world killing must be commonplace. It's only going to get harder from here...
Look I'm sorry Mr goblin…
I raise my sword and ready myself again. My sword plunges directly down at the goblin's body. If I hit It I would only know by the time my sword stopped moving…