"There are a multitude of ways for you, the host, to increase your strength. You can continue along <
"Well damn System! Why didn't you tell me sooner? Looks like option three is my way to go! I still get to keep cultivating a sweet body, and eventually I can even learn magic!" Logan nearly shouted out loud in excitement. That would have been a weird sight, a young man shouting to himself while walking down the street.
Logan walked down the street, a single pence in hand, looking for some cheap food to eat. Mary had slipped him one pence before he left her stall, as she noticed how starved and hungry he looked. Finding a place that sold meat pies for a pence, Logan sat down and ordered one, talking to the System while he waited.
"System, how come I didn't get a notification saying I completed a portion of my task like last time?" Logan inquired, as he figured that he had left quite a good image of himself to the lady. "Last time was a rare exception. You were the first guy Liz had seen that was around her age, causing her to feel a false sense of love when interacting with you. Today you had only been polite, a common courtesy that is quite expected in social interaction. If you wish to leave a real impression of a nice and good person, perhaps you can do extra work for her or be extra efficient." The System quickly replied, leaving Logan stumped. What could he do to make Mary see him in a better light than other people?
In the middle of his pondering, the waiter walked over and delivered his meat pie. Handing the pence over to him, Logan looked quite uncomfortable as he explained that he couldn't top as that single pence was all he owned. Smiling, the waiter nodded his head, as if saying it were alright, and then he continued on his way.
"Well then, System,what would be the quickest way for me to reach the third cultivation stage?" Logan spoke within his head, as he was savoring the delicate meat pie that sat in front of him. "By following the path that has been set out for you, and completing the tasks, the host shall quickly rise in level, soon reaching the top." The System rang out in his mind, causing a small pang of pain in his head, akin to that of a minor migraine.
"Well then," Logan stated, standing up after finishing his meat pie. "I guess I should complete my current task then, yeah?" Asking in a rhetorical manner, the System did not reply. Logan stretched his legs and arms, and began to jog down the street, trying to find his way back towards Mary. He figured if he went down now to help out, then maybe he could speed up this task of his.
"Mary! Mary where are you?" Logan called out, confused about why Mary wasn't at her stall even though it was clearly still filled with merchandise. Confused, and slightly worried, Logan looked around the stall, before heading to the back, where the storage was. Upon walking through Logan found Mary!
"Mary are you okay!?"Logan shouted at her, as he hoped that she was alright. "Huh what?" Mary groaned, as if shaking of sleep deprivation. "Oh you, Logan is it? Yes haha, well it seems that I've fallen asleep on the job!" She explained, not minding much about the details that were implied.
"Well, would you like any help packing up the stall Boss Lady? That way you can get home and get some sleep?" Logan offered to help, not wanting her to fall asleep again and get robbed, or worse kidnapped. "Are you sure Logan? It seems that I will have to be a bit shameless and ask for your help packing up, even if it's just for my own selfish needs." Mary prattled on a bit, painting herself as unworthy of sleep.
Logan was shocked, what could possibly be making her stay longer than she was able? "Of course Boss Lady! It's really no big deal at all, just sit down and I'll let you know when I'm all done." Logan said this as he moved around, packing fruits and folding clothes. Soon everything was packed within a couple trunks, all of which were stored in a wagon. "Would you like me to push this home for you?" Logan offered, figuring that he might as well help all of the way.
Mary was greatly surprised, her tired face pepping up slightly. "Why thank you Logan! You know what? I think you've earned this, and there is no use in telling me otherwise. You shall now be payed three pence a day instead of two!" Mary happily proclaimed this as Logan was pulling the wagon, making him almost fall.
"Are you sure? I don't want to trouble you much and I'm only helping because it's the right thing to do." Logan started, not wanting to accept so much as his starting wage. "Why of course Logan!" Mary said, not backing down.
It took Logan a long and awkward thirty minutes before reaching Mary's home. Upon which she thanked him, and took her bags inside leaving Logan dumbfounded and outside. "If she could have done it herself this whole time, why play victim and make me?" Logan wondered, while walking back towards the main part of Ingwald.