( Scroll can be unlocked at level 5. )
The message appeared as Zero tries to open it.
[ I can't open it... Then what's the point of giving me this if I can't even open it...? ] a disappointed look appeared on his face.
As he can't open the scroll that was the supposed 'reward' for his first task, he just decided to look ahead and store it inside the pouch that was given to him by Gerald.
Zero is now outside the shop. He felt the grass touches his shoes and his skin shrivels from the wind that blew strong in the street. At this point, Zero already believes that he was not in the game anymore, but where his at is an unknown reality.
He doesn't know what his current situation is, but he knows that he should move forward.
And so, he walks the streets of Azir.
The sun touches his face and the wind, his skin. And with the green grasses on the ground and the well-defined wooden structures on each of his sides, the scenery couldn't feel more refreshing.
There are only a few people walking around the town and they all seem to be busy. Some are carrying their goods and there are also some that are wearing weapons like him, the only thing he can't find are players like himself. And since he is wearing the same clothes people here are wearing, he completely blends in with them - added also the fact that his appearance is the one he had created in the game, which is bland and average-looking.
( So this is what it feels like to be inside a real-life starting town, huh? They always look good in the game, but now that I can see and feel everything about it, it turned out to be much better... ) he couldn't help but compare.
[ Haah... ] he let out a refreshing sigh as he continues to move forward.
***
After a few minutes of just walking around and asking people for directions, Zero had finally reached the small gate that separates the town outside.
The gate was almost only made of thick wooden materials. And on its two sides were just normal wooden fences. Almost everyone who tries to cross it would be able to, that is, if there were no guards that are guarding it - in which in this case - it has.
Zero turned to look at the two guards that are talking with each other.
Their uniform was the same but their builds are completely different from each other: one of them is just much shorter and wider than the other.
The two of them seems to be busy talking, so Zero decided to just sneak out, trying to not disturb.
[ ... ]
But then as soon as he was able to cross, one of the guards called out to him.
[ Hey, young man, where are you going? ] the guard asked.
Immediately, Zero turns to look at them, feeling as though he had done something bad.
Was sneaking out away from them was the wrong choice?
The two guards are wearing helmets, so Zero can't really read the expressions they are making with their faces.
[ Hmm... You have a weapon on you... Are you perhaps an adventurer? ]
[ Ah, right, I am. ]
Although he could not see his face, Zero was sure that he was looking at the rusted sword that is on his waist.
Everyone who would see his sword will immediately guess that he must be a newbie adventurer. And that was the case for the guard, he thought that he must be some kind of a new adventurer who just went into town.
[ Hmm... Is that so... This is the first time I've seen your face around. ]
[ I just arrived this morning. ]
[ Oh? I guess I was not on shift when you entered... Anyway, I just want to say that you should be careful. The monsters outside are not strong, but definitely never let your guard down. You never know when strong ones will suddenly appear. ]
[ Please don't worry, I'm already used to this kind of thing. ]
[ Well, it would make sense that this is not your first time... Anyway, good luck! If you don't return after six days, we will declare you dead, okay? Ah! right, if you want to leave, I will need you to sign here first. ] he said as he took out a pencil and a single piece of paper.
[ Oh? There's such a thing, huh? ]
( I guess there is... Since you won't magically revive when you die... But really... He asked me to sign it as if it was normal for adventurers to die... )
[ When adventurers go outside, there's always a possibility that they will die from a monster. If they don't come back, we will then report to the guild their names to confirm that they went outside. Well, it's just there to keep things proper. ] he explained.
[ Ah, okay. ] as Zero replied, he took the pencil and sign the paper.
[ Okay, that's enough... Umm... Zero... Is that really your name? It's a bit weird, isn't it? ]
Zero could only make an empty smile as he heard the same words Anna had said about his name.
[ Un, Zero-san, you're free to go; make sure to come back alive, okay? ]
***
The outside of the town is what exactly he had imagined it to be. If it wasn't for the road in the middle, then everything that he would see is the color green - the color of the grass and the trees.
The sun is also high up in the bluest sky. The two were the same as they were when he first arrived.
[ They should be here somewhere... ] he mutters as he looks around.
Not finding any, he decided to look further, and not long after, he saw one lying on the ground. As it was in the game, it was easy to find them.
He saw there on the ground is a slime. Its color was like the grass, but its texture was like that of very dense water.
It hops small distance towards anything that it can consume, and in this case, was the tall grass just beside it.
Slimes are the most common monsters as they are also the simplest. They can multiply in will and they grow by consuming nutrients of either dead or living creatures. Slimes only exist in places where it can consume enough nutrients to live, and where they can be found the most are in grove forests and plain grasslands. And since most of the nutrients they consume in those places almost only consist of grass, they adapt to it and their color turns green.
[ ... ]
As Zero observes it, he took out his sword.
As an experienced player, Zero obviously knows the weakness of the weakest monster.
Inside a slime are two cores. Destroy one and it will die.
That was how easy it is to kill them.
So even if Zero has no experience in handling a sword for real, he was confident that this would be an easy task for him.
~~~
Almost an hour had passed since Zero had been collecting slime cores.
( Task Complete: Collect 10 slime cores! )
[ Haa... Haa... So they're much tougher than I thought, huh...? ] Zero breathes for air as he finished the last slime.
And as he said, the slimes are definitely much tougher than what he thought. But definitely, the cause for it was his low-class sword.
Although their skins were like water, it was hard for Zero to penetrate it with his sword. Each strike, he puts his overall strength, hoping it would reach their skins deep enough to destroy one of the cores inside.
( This is definitely Gerald's fault... ) he blamed the shopkeeper who lent him the weakest sword possible.
[ Haah... Anyway, Stats. ] he said the word as he regained his composure.
( Showing Stats >>> ... )
Level: 3
Health: 29
Stamina:48
Strength: 14
Magic: 10
Physical Defense: 4
Magic Resist: 3
He looks at the window with a dissatisfied look.
[ I still got a long way to go... My stats are now have gotten a little bit high, but I still need two more levels to open this damn scroll... ] after muttering those words, he took the slime core on the ground and put it on his pouch.
And as he stood up, he looks around the area again.
( And this is still far from my original level... So much for being a God now, huh? ) he couldn't feel more humiliated for having a hard time hunting slimes.