Chapter 11 - Suspension Saturday

The first ray of dawn slipped through the window, slowly pulling me out of sleep. My mind was still foggy, caught between the world of dreams and reality, when suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my side. A groan escaped my lips before I realized what had happened. I bolted upright, my heart pounding as I looked around, searching for the source of the discomfort.

To my surprise, I saw Tesline curled up near me, her leg still extended after the kick that had woken me. Her breathing was calm and steady; she was clearly still fast asleep. I couldn't understand what she was doing there, in my house, and even less why she had decided to attack me in her sleep.

"Tesline," I murmured, gently shaking her shoulder. She didn't react beyond a small movement of her head. "Tesline!" I insisted, this time with a bit more force.

She just turned over, mumbling something unintelligible as she buried herself deeper in the blanket. She didn't seem inclined to wake up, but I needed answers.

I shook her again, this time with more insistence. "Hey, what are you doing here? Why did you kick me?"

Tesline opened one eye, looking at me with obvious annoyance before burrowing further into the blanket. "Let me sleep…" she mumbled, in a tone that made it clear she had no intention of cooperating.

"Tesline, seriously. What are you doing here?" I insisted, a bit frustrated now. I couldn't let her fall back asleep without an explanation.

With a resigned sigh, she finally opened her eyes and sat up, disheveled and with an expression caught between sleep and irritation.

"I was running out of money for the inn… And, since we're friends, I figured you wouldn't mind if I stayed here. Plus, I helped you build this house, didn't I?"

"You're emotionally blackmailing me."

"No, you're just too smart for that."

"Well, I don't want to brag… Wait, don't mess with my head."

"Please, let me stay here, I really need this; I don't want to get into debt."

Her response left me momentarily speechless. Of course, Tesline had been a great help in building the house, and I certainly wouldn't leave her out on the street. I had already experienced what it was like to lose a home due to debt, but fortunately, I had my parents' help to get through that tough time.

Judging by what I knew of Tesline, I couldn't say if she had anyone to help her; the fact that she had come to me meant she held me in high regard. I didn't like the idea of her depending too much on me, considering her importance to the proper progression of the plot.

Still, I couldn't just throw her out onto the street. I want to make it clear that I'm not a monster. I suppose, for the sake of the story, I have no choice but to let her stay to prevent her from being eaten by a wolf or dying of starvation.

Besides, I don't want to admit it, but I've grown quite fond of her. She's the first friend I've made in this world, and, to be honest, the first in years if I count my previous world.

That said, her way of showing up unannounced and then kicking me in bed wasn't exactly what I expected from a friend.

"You could have mentioned it before showing up out of nowhere," I said, rubbing my sore side. "And next time, try not to wake me up with a kick."

"Sorry. Next time?"

"You can stay in one of the rooms. But there's a condition."

She lifted her head from the pillow, looking at me with curiosity. "What's that?"

"If you're going to stay here, you'll have to help with the house and contribute to the food. I can't handle everything on my own."

Tesline blinked a few times, processing my words, before a wide smile spread across her face. "Deal!" she exclaimed, her energy returning all of a sudden. Before I could react, she lunged at me and wrapped me in a tight hug.

I felt the warmth of her body against mine, and I couldn't help but hug her back, though a bit more timidly. "Thanks, Rurik," she murmured against my chest. "I knew I could count on you."

"Yeah, yeah, but remember I'm serious. Help with the house and the food," I responded, trying to sound firm, though the warmth of her embrace made it hard to maintain a serious tone.

"I know, I know," she said, finally letting go of me, but still smiling. "I'm going to make sure you don't regret this, I promise."

"I feel like I'm already regretting it. Anyway, how about we eat something?"

"Are we going to the town to eat?"

"No, you're not the only one running out of money."

"So, what will we do?"

"Instead of going to town for breakfast, I was thinking of preparing something here. I bought some bread from Rakkar's shop the other day, and I can toast it. Plus, I made some homemade jam with some berries I found in the forest."

Tesline followed me with a curious expression. "Homemade jam? I didn't know you knew how to make that," she said, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, you have to learn a few things when you live alone. Besides, I do have a 'job' as a cook," I replied with a smile. "It's not as complicated as it seems, and these berries were perfect for it."

"That sounds amazing," she said, her enthusiasm growing. "I can't wait to try it!"

I started preparing breakfast, slicing the bread and putting it on to toast while Tesline took care of getting the jam out of the jar. As I did, I realized how nice it was to have someone else in the house, even if it was just to share something as simple as breakfast.

"Thanks for this, Rurik," Tesline said, sitting on the floor when everything was ready. "I think this is just what I needed."

"You're welcome," I replied, serving the toast and jam. "And remember, there's plenty more where this came from, so don't hesitate to ask if you get hungry."

As we continued to enjoy breakfast, the atmosphere remained light and relaxed. The crunch of toasted bread and the sweet taste of homemade jam made the morning seem even calmer and more pleasant. However, after a while of silence, Tesline looked at her toast, then at me, and broke the peace with an unexpected comment.

"You know, Rurik," she began, her tone thoughtful, "I was thinking… since we're both a little short on money, maybe we should consider taking a mission at the guild."

I looked up from my toast, surprised by the idea, though not completely disagreeing. It was true that money was tight, and Tesline had a valid point. Besides, with all the effort we'd put into the house, I had realized I needed to improve a few things.

"Yeah, that might be a good idea," I replied, chewing slowly as I thought it over. "To be honest, I've been thinking about that too. I want to buy new equipment, some furniture for the house, and a decent kitchen where I can cook without any problems."

Tesline nodded, with a satisfied expression. "Exactly. We can't live off just toast and jam forever, right? Plus, if we keep taking missions at the guild, it could give us the money we need for all those upgrades."

"You're right. Since we're at it, we could go after breakfast and see what missions are available. With a bit of luck, we'll find something interesting and well-paying."

　*・・*・・*・・*・・*・・*

Both Tesline and I were puzzled; a particular mission had caught our attention. The notice offered one gold coin for every two crabs that adventurers could capture in the Dark Mire swamp, a place with a somewhat sinister reputation. Tesline paused, read the mission out loud, and then turned to me with a look of astonishment.

"One gold coin for every two crabs? That's a lot for something so simple... And why is it a C-rank mission? This doesn't make sense," she said, raising an eyebrow.

I was about to respond, sharing my own doubts about the mission, when we were suddenly interrupted by Aldwyn, the guild leader. His expression showed frustration, and it seemed like he had been observing our reaction to the mission.

"No one has wanted to take that mission," Aldwyn said, crossing his arms. "Some say it's tedious, others think it's too dangerous. And honestly, I understand. The Dark Mire isn't a place to be taken lightly, especially because of the adult crabs."

Before I could say anything, Tesline, always impulsive, seized the opportunity and addressed him without hesitation. "We'll take it!" she exclaimed enthusiastically. "Let us try, Aldwyn!"

Aldwyn looked at her sternly, his demeanor hardening. "I don't think you understand what you're saying, Tesline. The Dark Mire is dangerous, even for higher-ranked adventurers. I'm not going to let you risk yourselves for something like this."

Just when I thought the conversation had reached a dead end, a nearby adventurer, one of the guild's veterans, approached and placed a hand on Aldwyn's shoulder.

"Aldwyn, let them take the mission. If they do it in the wetlands near the swamp, they'll be out of danger. They won't find many crabs, but at least they won't get into trouble."

"That's a terrible idea."

"Come on, they'll be fine. Besides, if they manage to collect a good amount and come out unscathed, maybe you can hire them permanently to gather crabs and restart the annual Red Crab Festival."

Tesline, her gaze fixed on Aldwyn, waited for his response. It seemed like he was about to protest, but finally, he sighed and nodded.

"Alright, if you agree to do it in the wetland, then I won't oppose. But promise me you won't go near the Dark Mire swamp; it's a treacherous place where the adult crabs hide in the depths."

Tesline nodded vigorously, clearly excited to have secured the mission. "We promise to be careful! You won't regret this, Aldwyn," she said enthusiastically. She looked at me, and I could see the spark of excitement in her eyes.

"Fine, but if things get complicated, I want you to leave immediately. I don't want two reckless young people becoming the next victims of that place."

"We'll run at the first sign of trouble, you can count on that."

"Then it's a deal."

Aldwyn went to the counter and brought us waterproof overalls and some metal baskets where we could store the crabs we found. He secured the baskets, making sure they wouldn't fall off.

"Ha, ha! You've got an overall on top of another overall."

"What do you want me to do? I don't have more clothes."

　*・・*・・*・・*・・*・・*

The midday heat in the swamp was stifling, and the thick air enveloped us as we moved through the shallow waters. The task of collecting crabs had started relatively calmly. Tesline and I had already filled a good portion of our metal baskets with crabs we found under rocks and in small crevices in the terrain.

However, Tesline still couldn't understand why this mission was rated so highly.

"I don't get it, Rurik," she said as she caught another crab and tossed it into her basket. "Why is this mission considered dangerous? We've already caught a few adult crabs, and they don't seem that scary."

I glanced at her, shaking my head.

"What we're catching aren't adults; they're juveniles. The adult crabs are much, much larger."

She looked at me with a mix of disbelief and surprise.

"Seriously? But these already look pretty big for crabs. Where I come from, crabs didn't get any bigger than this."

"I know, but it's different here. Adults can grow as large as an orc. They usually stay in the depths or in caves where there's more food, but in this swamp, they're more sensitive. They can sense what's above, and if they detect something, they might come out to hunt it."

Tesline paused for a moment, processing what I had said.

"Larger than an orc?" she murmured, her eyes wide with surprise. "How?"

"I think it has to do with the high concentration of mana found in the minerals buried deep in this realm, which seeps up to the surface, affecting the biology of animals, insects, or crustaceans that are more sensitive to mana," I explained, as we continued collecting crabs. "But if we're lucky, we won't run into any."

After a bit more work, our metal baskets were nearly full. Tesline, ever the enthusiast, let out a victorious shout, lifting her basket and waving her arms. Her shout echoed through the swamp, breaking the silence that had accompanied us until then.

"We did it, Rurik! Look at how many we've caught!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement.

But before I could respond, a low, deep sound emerged from the swamp, like a distant rumble approaching. We both froze, our senses heightened by the feeling of imminent danger. And then, from the shadows of the swamp, something emerged that left us frozen in fear: an adult crab, immense, rising from the water, its dark, gleaming eyes fixed on us.

"Run, Tesline!" I shouted with all my might, feeling terror course through me.

We both started running, but the mud and water made each step heavy, as if the swamp itself was trying to hold us back. I could hear Tesline struggling to keep pace.

"I'm running as fast as I can!" she shouted back, her voice filled with effort.

But the giant crab didn't stop. Its immense shell glinted in the light, and its pincers, the size of a human, cut through the air with each movement. It was about to catch us.

　*・・*・・*・・*・・*・・*

Tesline and I sat by the fire, with crabs roasting over the flames. The smell was delicious, and we both ate in silence, regaining our strength after the scare.

Tesline broke the silence, looking at a piece of crab meat in her hand. "How did we survive that?" she asked, her tone still filled with astonishment.

I took a bite and chewed slowly before responding with a tired smile. "I have no idea... and I don't want to question our luck."

We looked at each other for a moment, both knowing we had had a close call with death. Finally, Tesline sighed and set her plate aside. "We should tell Aldwyn what happened, shouldn't we?"

I shook my head. "No. If he finds out we encountered an adult crab, he won't let us repeat this mission. And, honestly, we could use the gold."

She nodded, understanding my point. "Alright then. It'll be our little secret."

We laughed softly, the sound echoing in the quiet night of the swamp.

After a while of eating in silence, Tesline broke the stillness with a curious question. "Hey, Rurik, what level are you now?"

I paused for a moment, pretending to check the bracelet the academy gave us, though I was actually checking my system. "Level 5," I finally replied, with a mix of satisfaction and surprise. I had advanced more than I expected.

"And you?" I asked, looking at her with curiosity.

"Level 8," she responded with a proud smile. "Although, to be honest, I still haven't used my stat points. Have you?"

I shook my head. "No, not yet. I was waiting for the right moment to decide where to invest them."

She nodded, thoughtful. "So, what do you think I should use them on? I'm not sure what would be the best option."

I thought for a moment, considering her skills and fighting style. "It depends on what you want to improve," I began. "If you want to keep fighting with your fists, you might want to focus on increasing your strength and agility. But if you're thinking about diversifying or improving other areas, you could consider vitality or defense to withstand more hits."

"Exactly," I replied, smiling. "And if you need help with your stats or want to try something new, you can always count on me."

"Thanks, Rurik," she said, returning my smile. "So, can I see your stats? I want to compare."

"Sure, but let me spend my stat points first."

"Of course, I'll spend mine too."

I decided to follow my own advice and use my stat points. I thought about increasing my defense, since having zero defense was pretty disheartening. However, when I tried to do so, something strange happened: I couldn't spend the points on defense.

I frowned, confused. Why wasn't it working? I tried again, but the result was the same. A strange sense of frustration took over me, and for a moment, I thought about leaving the points unused. But I couldn't afford to waste them.

Finally, after a while, I decided to redirect those points elsewhere. I opted to increase my mind, to enhance my magical abilities and concentration, and also vitality, to ensure I could endure more if needed.

Though I still felt a bit puzzled by what had happened with defense, I let the matter slide.

[-System-]

[Stats Updated]

[Name: Rurik] - [Level 5]

-> Vitality: 10

(HP: 485)

(Reg: 4.5 s)

-> Mind: 10

(MP: 280)

(Reg: 4 s)

-> Strength: 5

-> Dexterity: 3

-> Intelligence: 30

-> Defense: 0

[+0 Stat Points]

After assigning my points, Tesline asked to see my stats again. I showed her what I had done, and her expression changed when she saw my defense.

"Zero defense?" she exclaimed, surprised. Then, with a mischievous smile, she added, "Do you trust your dodging skills so much that you don't even need defense?"

I laughed, though I still felt a bit uncomfortable about not being able to improve that attribute. "Something like that," I replied, following her joke. "Although I'd prefer not to have to test that theory too often."

Tesline chuckled and gave me a gentle nudge on the shoulder. "Well, at least I know I can count on you to stay out of trouble. I just hope you don't get into problems for relying too much on your reflexes."

"I'll do my best not to disappoint you," I responded, grateful that Tesline managed to make me feel a bit better about the situation. Her sense of humor always had a way of easing the tension, and that was something I greatly appreciated.

"I think it's my turn. Look and weep."

[Name: Tesline Koizumi] - [Level 8]

-> Vitality: 10

(HP: 450)

(Reg: 4 s)

-> Mind: 8

(MP: 225)

(Reg: 3.5 s)

-> Strength: 14

-> Dexterity: 14

-> Intelligence: 7

-> Defense: 10

[+0 Stat Points]

"Damn, you have better stats than I do."

Tesline, seeing the difference, couldn't help but smile mischievously. "Wow, Rurik, it looks like I have better stats than you in almost everything," she commented, with a voice full of pride. "Especially in defense. Are you sure you don't want to switch places?"

I looked at her with an eyebrow raised, knowing she was joking. "Don't underestimate me too much, Tesline. I might surprise you on the battlefield."

She burst into laughter, enjoying the moment. "Maybe, but for now, it seems like I'm the one in the lead. You know, it's not easy being in this glorious level 8."

"Glorious level 8, huh?" I replied, joining in the joke. "Well, you'd better use those impressive stats to protect me, since it looks like I'll be dodging more than ever."

"Oh, don't worry! With my superior skills, you won't have to lift a finger," she responded, winking at me. "But if you ever need advice on improving, you know who to ask."

"I'll keep that in mind, oh great stats expert," I responded with a smile. "But don't get too confident. I still have a few tricks up my sleeve."

She blinked, intrigued. "Oh, really? And what would those be?"

I smiled with a feigned confidence as I pointed to my intelligence stat. "My intelligence, of course. Someone has to be the brains of this team, don't you think?"

Tesline burst into laughter, giving me a pat on the back. "Touché, Rurik! I can't argue with that. I guess I need someone smart to watch my back when I'm diving headfirst into battle."

"Exactly," I replied with a smile. "It's a perfect balance. You're the muscle, and I'm the brilliant mind that'll cast spells to wipe out the enemies."

Tesline continued laughing as she nodded. "Alright, I admit it. We need more than just muscle to survive out there. Just don't get too carried away, okay?"

"Don't worry," I said, amused. "I'd never underestimate the importance of having someone with better stats in strength and agility by my side. So, while you take care of smashing the enemies, I'll make sure to support you with all kinds of spells, whether they're buffs for you or debuffs for the enemies."

"Sounds like a fair deal," concluded Tesline, still smiling as we prepared for whatever the future held, satisfied with the dynamic we had built.

　*・・*・・*・・*・・*・・*

After what felt like an eternity in the Swamp, Tesline and I returned to the guild, covered in mud but with a sense of victory. As we crossed the threshold, we were met with Aldwyn's concerned gaze, who hurried towards us with a mix of relief and surprise on his face.

"For heaven's sake, you're alive!" he exclaimed, letting out a visible sigh of relief. "I was starting to think I made a mistake letting you go."

Tesline and I exchanged a knowing glance, smiling triumphantly as we set our metal baskets full of crabs on the counter. "It wasn't easy, but here they are," I said, trying to hold back my pride.

Aldwyn examined the crabs with an expression that quickly shifted from concern to joy. "Impressive! These are more than I expected." Then his face brightened even more. "If you keep this up, I might reconsider restarting the Red Crab Festival. It's an event we haven't celebrated in years!"

That news caught the attention of several nearby adventurers, who began murmuring among themselves with excitement. The possibility of reviving such an old tradition clearly had more than one person thrilled.

"I still don't know what the Red Crab Festival is," Tesline asked, curious, looking at Aldwyn.

"It's an old tradition," Aldwyn explained with a nostalgic smile. "During the festival, the guild would cook these crabs using a recipe given to us by an old adventurer. It was a huge success, and we even held a big competition to see who could eat the most."

"That sounds great."

"It was an important event, but it stopped being celebrated because it became a tedious and dangerous mission."

"Well, it looks like we're on the right track to bring it back," Tesline said, a spark in her eyes. "If we get enough crabs, do you think the festival could really return?"

"If you keep bringing in as many as today, I have no doubt," Aldwyn replied, nodding. "For now, keep going. Not only are you helping the guild, but you might be reviving a tradition that many have missed."

As the nearby adventurers celebrated the news, Tesline and I exchanged a conspiratorial smile.