Day 4 Log Out
The atmosphere in the storage room was thick with a strange unease, even though the task was technically complete. The Corrupted Rat lay motionless, a small victory in my otherwise mundane life. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this rat problem than met the eye.
I stood there for a moment, scanning the room again. My tiny companion hopped up to my shoulder, its tiny paws patting my cheek as if trying to reassure me.
> Creature: (•̀v•́)و
"Yeah, I know," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "But something doesn't feel right."
I turned back toward the door, ready to report back to Nina. The job was technically done, but the deeper mystery behind these rats was starting to gnaw at me. What was causing this corruption? And why was I the one to encounter it?
I grabbed my broom again, sweeping up the last of the normal rats scattered around the room. They scurried away at my approach, eager to avoid being swept up.
As I finally made my way to the door, the tiny companion on my shoulder gave a little chirp, as if sensing my lingering thoughts.
> Creature: (｡•́︿•̀｡)
"Yeah, me too," I muttered in agreement. "Let's just get this over with and tell Nina."
---
I emerged from the storage room, the faint smell of dust and stale air still lingering on my clothes. Nina was standing near the counter, tapping her fingers impatiently.
> Nina: "Well? Is it done?"
I gave her a nod, still mentally turning over the strange occurrences in the room. "Yeah, the rats are cleared. I got the big one, too. A corrupted one."
Her eyes widened at the mention of the corrupted rat. "Corrupted? You mean the red one you've been seeing?"
"Yeah." I shifted my weight uncomfortably. "Something's not right. It's more than just a random nuisance. This is... connected to something bigger. I think I've seen these before, around the canals."
Nina's eyes darkened, her usual indifference replaced by a flicker of concern. "Corrupted creatures are dangerous. If you're seeing them this close to town, it could mean something's stirring. And it might not be just rats."
I swallowed, a chill creeping up my spine. "So, what do we do now?"
Nina placed her hand on the counter and sighed. "For now, you've done your job. But keep an eye out. That rat... it was a warning. I'll tell the others, but you need to stay alert. Don't let your guard down."
---
With that, I wrapped up the conversation and headed for the exit, my thoughts swirling with what Nina had said. I had completed my job, but the odd sense that something was wrong still lingered.
Just as I reached the door, I felt a small, familiar ping in my mind. The system interface appeared before me, signaling the completion of two quests.
> System Notification: Congratulations!
Quest 1: Nina's Assistant (4-Day Term)
Reward: 15 CP,
New Title: Nina's Assistant (Temporary, 4 Days)
> System Notification: Congratulations!
Quest 2: Corrupted Rat Extermination
Reward: 20 CP
Bonus: Corrupted Rat Fang (Unique Item)
I blinked at the notifications. Two quests completed. The rewards weren't massive, but they were certainly helpful. The most interesting part was the assistant title. I'd officially be Nina's assistant for four days, which meant I'd have more access to tasks—and possibly more insight into whatever was going on with these rats.
A grin spread across my face as I pocketed the coins from the two quests. Even with the unsettling feeling still nagging at me, the rewards were a nice touch. I had the next few days lined up with Nina's tasks, which could turn out to be a pretty big opportunity.
---
I made my way back to my room, the day's tasks finally behind me. The tiny companion on my shoulder chirped happily.
> Creature: (•̀v•́)و
"Yeah, I know," I chuckled softly. "Good day's work."
After that's I settled an inn and immediately pulled up the auction house again. The gem I had been selling was still fetching an absurd price. Maybe, just maybe, things were finally looking up.
I stared at my inventory and the bow I'd received earlier. The thought of selling it did cross my mind, but I hesitated. It had been a gift from Nina, and that meant something to me. I decided to hold on to it for now.
After checking everything once more, I stretched and flopped onto the bed, a satisfied sigh escaping my lips.
Tomorrow would bring its own challenges, I was sure of it. But for now, I could relax. The quests were complete, the rewards were in hand, and I was Nina's assistant, at least for the next four days. Things were looking better than I'd expected.
---
I tapped the logout command, feeling the familiar pull back into the real world as the game faded away. The weight of the headset lifted, and I was back in my own room, the quiet settling over me.
Tomorrow would be interesting.