WE reached the Thieves Town's south gate na magkasama. Malalim na ang gabi at may mga monsters na tuwing gabi lang nag-spawn, hindi ito kasing delikado ni Goldiva since normal mobs lang ang mga ito ngunit kung mag isa at walang kahit anong dalang health potion tulad ko malabo rin akong makakarating ng buhay sa town.
Napakalamig ng gabi sa larong ito, buti nalang pinili ng elf ang golden collar at binigay sa akin ang ragged cloak na sinuot ko naman kaagad bago kami lumabas ng forest. Nang makarating kami sa bukana ng south entrance, ang elf ay muling umalis papuntang mob area. Tila gusto pang magpalakas. Adik mode.
Dumiretso naman ako sa Thieves Den at hinanap ang Change Job Officer. Pinapili niya ako sa napakaraming available second jobs at sa lahat, ang Assassin ang kinakitaan ko ng interest.
"I want to be an Assassin," wika ko sa Job Officer.
"Good choice, Lass!" He said with matching thumbs up. "Look for Valleria in the depths of Death Cave, tell her you seek 'The love of Nightmother' and do the things she asks of you." Ang wika nito.
"I understand."
Bago umalis ng town, nagpunta muna ako sa Item shop para ibenta ang nalikom kong loots. I also notice a golden flower in my inventory but I'm unable to sell it. Isa ito sa mga nakuha kong loots kay Goldivah. So perhaps may pag gagamitan ito in the future. 1 gold and 55 silvers ang kabuuang kinita ko sa mga nabenta ko.
Katabi lang ng Item shop ang di kalakihang Alchemist Shop na nasa ilalim ng isang malaking puno. Sa loob, makikita ang ilan ilang mga ugat na nakalaylay sa mga dingding at kisame ng mumunting tindahan. Makikita sa kanang bahagi ang samut saring potions at sa kaliwa ay mga boteng laman ay lason. Nakalagay sa centro ang maliit na cashier table na binabantayan ng isang matandang Dark Elf.
"Master, I want to make my own health potion can you teach me?" tanong ko sa Dark Elf.
"You don't have aptitude," maikling sagot nito. "But I have something that you can learn." Sabay pakita ng isang crafting book. "This is basic Poison Crafting; this book will teach you how to make your low-grade poison. How about I sell it to you for 10 gold."
I need that book! If my weapons have poison, mas mapapabilis ang pag patay ko sa mga mobs and since, I learned Poison needle skill mas malakas ang mga poisons na magagawa ko compared sa mga poison na binibenta sa market! But…
"10 gold?" I'm just a low-level adventurer, I only have 1 gold in my pouch. "Master, by chance do you accept Installment?"
"What is Installment?" the dark elf looked at me confused.
"Mama, people in Utopia don't know what Installment means." mayamaya'y sabi ni Momo. "Why Mama doesn't ask Master Sandal if he's willing to trade his book for a mission or other item."
Master Sandal? Is that his name? I looked at the old dark Elf and started to ask. "Master Sandal, I don't have 10 gold. Are you willing to trade your skill book to a mission or other items?"
"Hmm, now that you mention it. I am in dire need of spider eggs, lots of it actually. How about I'll trade my poison book for 100 spider eggs?"
"Momo, do you know where we can find spider eggs?" I asked Momo in whisper.
"Yes Mama, you can find a lot of spider sac inside the Death Cave."
"Good."
I bought few small health potions and lots of small stamina potions bago tuluyang umalis ng alchemist shop. Nagpunta rin ako sa di kalayuang Blacksmith at bumili ng limang set ng wooden arrows sa natitira kong silvers. Balak kong makuha ang poison book at tapusin ngayong gabi ang Assassin job quest bago tuluyang mag log off sa game.
I traveled the night hanggang makarating sa sinasabing Death Cave. It was dark at maririnig mo lang ang alingawngaw ng mga insecto sa loob, huminga ako ng malalim at nagpunta sa kaloob looban ng kweba.
Madilim, madulas ang mga bato at malamig ang simoy ng hangin sa loob ng kweba. Sa bandang ulunan may nakasalubong akong mga malalaking tarantula. I kited and killed the spiders one at a time until no one is left. I looked around and saw dozens of spider sacs in the area. I looted every sac and found atleast 5 spider eggs inside. After getting all the spider eggs, I proceed to my next mission which is to find Valleria.
Isang babae na naka balot ang mukha at nakasuot ng itim na leather armor ang nakatayo sa dulo ng cave, marahil ito na si Valleria. Ang babae ay tahimik na nakatayo lamang at nakatitig sa akin. mayroon tatlong tao sa likod nito. Isang naka magarang damit na babae na sagana sa mga mamahaling alahas. Sa gitna ay ang amo'y alak na lalaking payat, punit punit ang damit nito at puro grasa ang katawan. Ang huli ay isang matikas na lalaki suot ang kanyang silver-plated armor. Lahat sila ay naka luhod, piring ang mga mata at nakatali ang mga kamay. Naguguluhan man lumapit parin ako sa mga ito.
"I seek the love of Nightmother." Kalmado kong sabi.
"Prove to me you're worthy..." Lumapit sa akin si Valleria at dinala ako sa harapan ng tatlong nakaluhod na tao.
"You'd notice my guests... I've 'collected' them from... well, that's not really important. You see, those three are the potential suspects for murdering a poor innocent child. The kid was found dead on his own sack bed, no wound, no blood not even a trace of poison can be seen in his body. Just like he was sleeping, the only difference was that he is not breathing." Paliwanag nito on her sexy, cold voice. "That person can't leave this cave alive. But... which one? The rich lady, the kid's last theft victim? The city's guard? or his drunkard father?"
Umatras ito ng kaunti sa akin bago nag salita ulit. "Go on, see if you can figure it out. Make your choice. Make your kill. I just want to observe ...and admire."
Una kong nilapitan ang lalaking naka silver armor. Palapit palang ako dito pero wala ng tigil ang pagmamakaawa niya sa akin.
"I- I can hear you talking out there. Please, let me go. I've done nothing to you." Pagmamakaawa nito.
"Did you kill someone, like a kid thief for example?" I said in a cold tone.
"What? Oh, Gods no! Is this about that kid? Look, my lady... I'm a soldier, I don't kill children er... maybe there were sometimes, sometimes I got carried away? But I didn't kill that kid! It wasn't me I swear!"
Next, I asked the drunkard father.
"Lady... he's my child. I beat him, locked him and forced him to do dirty work. But he's my child! I won't kill my own flesh and blood!"
Ginawaran ko muna ng ilang sipa sa tiyan ang lasenggong tatay bago tuluyang pumunta sa ika tatlong suspect.
"Get this thing off me!" Galit na sabi ng babae.
"Did you kill that boy?" I asked.
"Excuse me, what kind of question is that?! Do you know who I am? Released me now! Or I will have my people carved my name in your corpse, Insolent fool!" The woman is now raging.
"The anticipation is killing me. Can you figure out? Who will you choose...?" Ani ni Valleria sa aking likuran.
I draw my dagger and readied myself to strike at the killer!
♠♠♠
Isa-isa kong sinuot ang aking new agile assassin armor set habang nakatingin sa malaking salamin sa loob ng isang bakanteng kwarto sa Hunter Association. Very daring ang style nito kumpara sa armors ng ibang second jobs ng thief. Leather bra, ragged skirt with black legging shorts, leather belt, gloves and boots na parehong may mga hidden pockets. Skulls in my right shoulder and in my belt! The armor is exotic and daring, yet beautiful. Gawa ito sa pinag halong leather and cotton, perfectly lightweight making it ideal for the agile shadow-killer like myself. Binagayan pa ng nakuha kong ragged cloak with hood mula kay Goldivah at ang tiara kong si Momo. mayroon din akong 5 golds na naloot sa patay na katawan ng katatapos ko lang na quest at nag level up ng isang beses!
Ang dahilan kaya ko pinili ang job na ito ay dahil sa special skill nitong SOE (SPY ON ENEMY) kung saan maaari mong masilip ang impormasyon ng kalaban ng hindi ito pinapatay. Makakatulong ito sa aking paghahanap.
Nakapag registered at opisyal na rin akong member ng Hunter Association (Thieves Society consists of all 2nd job thieves).
"Momo." Tawag ko sa aking android doll. Nasa loob ako ng kwarto ng isang Inn sa town. Marami akong mga katanungan at si Momo lang ang makakasagot.
Di naman ako nabigo. Dinitalye ni Momo ang ginawa niya pang hahack sa system at gumawa ng sariling program para magblend ito sa laro. Isinet nito ang kanyang sarili (tiara) sa growing type item, para sabay kaming mag level-up. Ang basic stat ni Momo ay 1 STR and 1 AGI so since level 11 nako ang bagong stats ni Momo ay 1+11 STR at 1+11 AGI. And since Momo is my tiara, when equipped I got additional stats. No wonder hindi ako inabutan ni Goldivah kahit mababa lang ang agility ko.
So ang aking lakas at ang aking bilis ay parang ginawang doble ni Momo. Salamat sa android doll ko I am a certified cheater!
MOMO becomes my unique and most powerful item, hindi lang yun marami din siyang tinuro sa akin about the game, more likely a live tutorial.
I suddenly hear my stomach growling. "Let's try the food here, shall we?" Sabay hawak sa kumukulo kong tiyan.
Warm room with a fire cracking sound, happy music, noisy people. Judging by the smells of grilled and cooked food coming from the kitchen, it must be a delicious food. I managed to find a seat and prepare for what will undoubtedly be a great evening. Nalaman ko mula kay Momo na ang iyong avatar ay matutulog once na ikaw ay mag log off sa game, para maiwasan ang unwanted PK (player kill) at MK (monster kill), may ginawang mga safe zone areas kagaya ng random tavern with Inn na tulad nito.
Chilling sa isang table sa pinaka sulok at dulo ng tavern malayo sa maiingay at crowded na mga players, masaya kong kinakain at ini-enjoy ang inorder kong wild boar steak. Not bad compare sa barley bread na lagi kong kinakain nung novice pa ako. Although hindi kasarapan ang pagkain sa laro kumpara sa realidad masasabi mo naman na ito ay isang decent meal.
Hindi ko rin pinalagpas na matikman ang kanilang manamis namis na honey bee ale, lasa itong honey water sa real world. While gulping the mug, gumuhit sa aking lalamunan ang matapang nitong liquor content. Damn! I miss this feeling. Sa real life kasi bawal na sa akin ang mga ganitong klaseng inumin. So, I will just enjoy it inside the game.
Mabilis na lumipas ang oras, hindi ko namalayan 10 mugs of ale na ang nainom ko. Medyo tipsy na ako at mabigat na ang pakiramdam ko. I think I need to retire for today! Tumayo ako at pasuray suray na naglakad papunta sa hagdanan papunta sa nirentahang silid.
"Need help gorgeous?" Tatlong male players ang papalapit sakin. Nakangisi ang mga ito at bastos nilang hinawi ng tingin ang aking pigura. Mukha namang hindi sila nabigo sa nakita at napa sipol pa ang isa.
Another nuisance. Ilang beses ba ako mapapaaway sa first day ng larong ito. I clenched my fists.
♠♠♠
NAGISING ako dahil sa isang mild electric shock. May shock factor pala pag nagising sa game.
Si Momo na nasa aking tabi ay tinanggal na rin ang kanyang wire cable sa capsule.
Tiningnan ko ang alarm clock sa aking side table, it was exactly eight o' clock in the morning. Since I spent one whole day sa game, eight hours pa lang ang lumilipas sa real world. So, times three pala ang bilis ng oras sa laro kung ikukumpara sa real world.
"Momo, can you check Sunshine and Midnight. I'm going to take a bath." utos ko sa aking DOLL saka tuluyang bumangon at nagsimulang maghubad.
"Sure, Mama," sagot ng aking android doll
"Don't worry about your twin doggies, darling. They already have breakfast." Just as I unbuttoned my long sleeve one-piece pajama a handsome man came walking in, not even bothering to knock and just entered my room.
I was momentarily stunned and looked at man, who just entered my room. A tall blonde man, he wears jeans with distraction and baby pink colored shirt. His green eyes are so beautiful that if you look at it, you'll forget all the anxiety and problems of the world.
"Are you taking a bath?" he sat down on my bed, looking at me who was about to drop my only piece of cloth. The man was sitting there leisurely and looking completely at ease, his attitude so nonchalant like he had every right to be sitting there. "Don't mind me. Please continue."
"Good morning Brother David!" Momo said excitedly.
"David, I think all the doors inside and outside of my penthouse are all pieces of decoration to you and treat them as if they do not exist."
"Darling, since when do you think of me as a stranger?" he said, smiling.
I was startled for a moment, after some thoughts and realization. I sighed. "You're right. Pupuntahan sana kita sa bahay mo, para yayain ng breakfast pero since andito kana. Just chill, ligo lang ako." I said. And finally, enter my bathroom.