Zero continues to walk with the little girl as he ponders about the thought of the feel of her hand.
He can feel the roundness and softness of her palm with his own. If this was a game, then there's no way he will be allowed to feel it. Yet, right now, he can totally do. And there was only one reason for it that Zero can think of -
That he was not in the game anymore.
The reason why he can't log out might be because of that, too.
But - that was still not enough reason to completely believe that theory yet. He needs more information, and where he could get more of it than to complete the tasks that were given to him by the system and to have more experience of this new and unknown place.
And maybe, by finishing the first tasks, he might be able to receive the plot of the game or of this world, and he could get a clue of what is happening right now. Not only that, but maybe he could also gain access to log out if he could get enough level or fulfill a certain task.
Since he won't be able to contact anyone outside, this was the only thing he could do for now to gain information.
[ By the way, onii-san, you haven't told me your name yet... Umm, then, let me introduce myself first, then it will be your turn! ] the girl - looked above towards him and said with, as usual, a bright smile on her face.
[ Okay. ]
[ Un! My name is Anna! ]
[ Anna? Right, then, you can call me Zero. ]
[ Huh...? Zero-nii...? What an odd name... ]
[ Really..? ]
Zero had never really got any impressions of his name before and this was the first time it was judged by someone. In-game, Zero's name would be considered normal, but of course, outside, it would be nothing but a weird name.
He didn't expect at all for an NPC to say something like that. No, he actually believes that she might not be an NPC anymore.
As he converses with Anna more, his feeling that she might not be an NPC at all grows only stronger.
[ Ah! Zero-nii! That's my house! There! ] she points at a small house with a sign written on top.
"Weapon and armor shop" - was written on the sign.
And although it was written with different letters, Zero seems to be able to understand its meaning. It was his first time seeing the letters, but he immediately able to read and understand them - it leaves him baffled.
With him still holding Anna's hand, they entered the shop, and they were immediately greeted by the shopkeeper.
[ Welcome! ]
[ I'm home! Otou-san! ] as soon as they entered, Anna freed her hand from his and ran towards the shopkeeper, her father. And as she did, her father knelt down to the ground and received her hug.
At the first sight of her father, one would think that he would be the rough kind of person. His build was muscular and his head is shaved. There is also a large scar on his face which makes his already scary structure even more frightening. But being rough would be the last word that would appear on Zero's head as he looks at him receive her daughter with a smile.
[ Oh! Anna! Did you bring someone? ]
[ Un! ] she nodded with a smile, and her father patted her head.
Zero looks at them and he could barely believe what he is seeing. Their expressions and actions couldn't be more human.
He wants to believe they're not NPCs, but rather real people - no, in fact, he already believes they are, but he still really doesn't have the proof of how so.
[ Welcome! ] the shopkeeper, again, greeted as he looks at Zero.
[ So, what did you come here for? Weapons? Perhaps a piece of armor? ] standing up, he asked him.
[ Umm... About that... I don't have anything with me right now... I just arrived in this town and I don't have any money whatsoever... Can you perhaps lend me a weapon? I promise to pay back. ] Zero apologetically asked the shopkeeper. Like Anna, he treated him as a real person.
The truth was, Zero had already planned what he would say to the shop keeper. And he did so not just to obtain a weapon, but to also try and experiment if the shop keeper will do something that is out of an NPC's supposed 'program'.
[ Hmm... That's a tough one... I really can't trust anyone I just met, you know...? ] he replied with a dissatisfied look on his face, but of course, Zero had already expected that he would have such reaction.
[ Any kind of sword will do. If I'm able to gain enough money from it, I promise I'll pay back double. ] he reassures him with confidence to himself.
[ Is that so...? Well, you don't seem to be a bad guy... and it seems you're not lying either... Fine, I'll accept your story for now... I'll lend you a single weapon... ]
[ Oh...? Really? Thank you. ]
( I didn't expect it would be that easy... But really... This guy is not an A.I, right? ) again, Zero ponder about the thought. He was now sure that what he was talking with was not a robot at all, but a real person.
[ Then, I'll choose a weapon for you. ]
[ Thank you very much... ]
[ Ahh, right, the ones that are hanging on the walls are not in the choice, those ones are pretty expensive. ] he pointed at the weapons that are hanging on each side of the walls.
There are a variety of weapons on them - and each is not just different from one another, but also comes in different colors.
[ You can wait there... Anna, make sure he doesn't steal anything okay? ] he jokingly said to his daughter.
[ Don't worry, I won't do anything like that. ]
[ U-Un! I trust Zero-nii! ]
[ Well, I do hope so. ] he replied to Zero and immediately went away to the other corner of the room to search for a lendable weapon.
This gave Zero time to use his Appraise.
[ Appraise... ]
( Steel Sword: Class-E )
( Magic Enhanced Steel Sword: Class-D )
( Cannot Appraise. )
( Bow: Class-D )
( Axe: Class-E )
( Rapier: Class-E )
( Cannot Appraise. )
Zero used his Appraise on the weapons, and as he expected, they were all low-class. But still, there were some that he can't appraise - those of which he won't be able to equip with his level.
[ Un, this one would be good for now. ] the shopkeeper turns back to Zero after a moment and hands a sword over to him.
( Rusted Steel Sword: Class-F )
The sword has the lowest class possible.
[ I won't even have to worry if you lose this sword. There's no way it would be sold anyway... So, you know... You can have it, you don't need to pay for it. ]
( Aren't you a little too cheap, shop keeper-san...? ) he could only force a smile as he receives the weapon.
[ Thank you... Shopkeeper-san... ]
[ It's Gerald. Hmm... You seem to be disappointed... Well, you know, it would be great to have a customer, but I can't really consider a person who hasn't got any money as one, isn't it? ] he tapped Zero's shoulder, laughing.
[ Well, how about this, if you can earn enough money to buy a decent weapon from me until tomorrow, I'll give you a discount to all my weapons. ]
[ Hmm... Until tomorrow, is that it? ]
[ That's right. And here - ] he also handed him a small pouch as he replies.
[ There are small creatures outside the town, well, particularly slimes... You can collect their cores and sell them to the guild branch here. ]
[ Guild branch? ]
[ Un, you can collect the cores first before you register in the guild here, but if you want, you can go there first. You can always ask the guards for directions. ]
[ Hmm... So the guild, huh...? ] Zero whispers.
He was reminiscent of the existence of the guild inside the game. He didn't really pay much attention to it when he was still a newbie, but the guild is the place where he and other players would sell their stuff in and earn money. And if what Gerald has said was true, then it works the same as it was in the game.
[ Then, thank you, Gerald-san, you too, Anna-chan. I think I would collect some of those cores now for now. I really need the money. ]
[ Well, then you should be! ]
[ Un! ] Anna nodded after her father.
[ Of course, I'll come back later to have that discount you talked about earlier. ]
[ O-Ohho~! Aren't you a little too confident...? ] he laughs with a stutter as he crossed his arms.
[ Don't worry, I'm already used to this. Grinding is a part of my everyday life, after all. ]
[ Grinding...? ] Gerald, the shopkeeper repeated the words, but before he got the word explained to him further, Zero had already gone outside.
***
Zero went outside and took the sword that was given to him by its hilt.
( Task Complete: Get Your First Weapon! )
( Reward(s): "Scrolled Message - Zereal" )
( .... )
[ Huh...? ]
As Zero exclaims in surprise, a scroll suddenly pops out from thin air in front of him.
And as it falls, Zero catches it, and as soon as he did, a new message shows up -
( New task: Collect 10 slime cores! )
[ So it really is the same as in the game, huh? ] he mutters as he looks at the new message, but then he immediately lose interest on it and turns his eyes to the scroll on his hand -
He looks at the scroll, and there on its seal was written the name - Zereal - in curves.