[Where all of the others failed, the young hero managed to survive through a fluke of chance.]
Although he was covered in scrapes and bruises, Charley was almost completely fine because his stick happened to catch between a couple of branches and worked to help break his fall.
"See? I told you that was a legendary great staff. It's kinda still stuck up in that tree though..."
[Weren't you just saying it was only a stick? And please just leave it alone. Now that you have finished your self assigned task of saving the carriage, we can all get back on the right track. Yes, as I look at it now, you can head north for about an hour until you reach a road that will connect through and take you all the way back to Sora Village.]
"Uh huh. And I don't suppose you want me to get abducted by some strange cult on my way back don't you? Or maybe they are lying in wait back at that cursed village you keep mentioning?"
[Cult? What cult? I just want you to get back to the story we all know ends well. Isn't that what everybody wants? To have an exciting adventure that leaves you satisfied in the end?]
"I think it is pretty obvious at this point that you aren't working towards my happy ending. Just look at those bandits that died a tragic death. What did you do to make them act like that?"
[Bandits? You're still on that? Wait why are you climbing up that tree? Nevermind, that bandit attack was obviously just a typical encounter in this world. The scenario goes bandits attack a group of innocent people, a hero comes after the call of help, the bandits engage the hero in combat, and finally the hero is victorious in the end. Isn't that exactly what happened?]
Talking while climbing up the tree that held his treasured staff Charley said, "What do you mean that's what happened? It went something like, a group of mean people call out a helpless bystander to be the new victim, stupid group of bandits decide the bystander is worth more than an entire carriage of goods, both groups run as hard as they can, and finally bandits kill themselves. That doesn't seem the same at all."
[No but really, why are you trying to get that stick again?]
"Oh you are just going to dodge the argument then?"
[I just don't understand why you refuse to listen and insist on wasting your time.]
"Mhm, a waste of time huh? I think you actually know that that is a legendary piece of equipment and you just don't want me to have it. Well? I'm spot on aren't I?"
[...]
[It actually is just a random stick you found though. Aren't there hundreds of them lying around right now?]
"Please don't waste my time with stupid arguments. If this stick was the same as all of the others around here, why would you keep bringing it up?"
[Ugh, It's because you keep -- Nevermind, what do I have to do to get you to start listening to me? Do I need to beg? Or maybe change the way I ask? What is it?]
Finally reaching the top, Charley retrieved his stick and began working his way back down.
"Come on now strange voice. You have finally resulted in asking me how to defeat myself? That's a new low even for yourself."
[Here, how about we try it this way. I'll just give you a quest. Everybody likes quests right?]
[New quest received: Hunt 5 horned rabbits. Reward: The meat of 5 horned rabbits.]
"Wait a second. There are quests in this world too? Hey, kind Mr. Strange Voice. I've gotten hungry recently, so I was wondering if you might know of the famed horned rabbits and where they might live? I've heard many tales about them and think I might be able to take them on at my level."
[...]
"Hey, hey. Are you still there?"
[...]
[I have so many questions right now, but maybe another time. Ahem, our young hero decided to head north towards the habitat of the horned rabbit. Understanding his helpless position in this world, he wanted to get stronger by hunting dangerous beasts. He also knew that the horned rabbits live next to a road that cuts through the forest and if luck might have it he may even follow that road back to Sora Village in an effort to start his grand adventure.]
"Well if you say it like that it sounds pretty suspicious, but I guess I can't help it for now."
After a little bit under an hour of traveling north, Charley finally spotted his first horned rabbit.
"Wait a second, are you telling me that is a horned rabbit?"
[Yes, quite a dangerous beast if I do say so myself.]
Sitting just a few feet in front of him sat an incredibly overweight rabbit.
"It just looks like a fat ball with a little horn on its chubby head."
Charley reached out with the stick in his hands to poke the rabbit. Immediately, it let out a quiet screech.
"Oh shit, that scared me a bit. How does this thing even move around? And why are you saying it's dangerous?"
[Well the horn on that rabbit is rumored to be able to punch through most any material in this world. Definitely a scary idea.]
"No, but that doesn't matter if it can't move. I don't get it, was it born right here? Or did it just get too fat and decide to stop moving altogether?"
Charley continued to poke the rabbit which let out a small screech each time without fail.
"I don't think I can kill this thing. It just feels wrong."
[Don't tell me you are going to ignore me again. Let's just think this through -- oh wait I know what to do.]
[Quest notification: The horned rabbit is known for having delicious meat when cooked due to the unusually high fat content.]
"Well little buddy, I think you are going to have to die after all."
After giving it a couple of whacks with the stick, the rabbit stopped making noise and he began to work on making a fire.
"Man good thing I had boy scout training when I was younger. Who knew it would come in handy at this point?"
Charley went about thoroughly preparing for his meal, from deskinning the rabbit to cooking it over a fire.
After tasting the rabbit meat and in-between bites, he commented, "Man this really is good. I don't think I can eat all that much because of the fat though."
[Oh yes, that's right.]
[Quest notification: Current progress 1 / 5 horned rabbits.]
"Man even though I have a quest, it just doesn't feel right to kill these things when I'm not hungry. I guess I'll just put it on hold for now."
[...]
[Wait, you are even going to ignore me when its in a quest format?]
"What do you mean ignore you? It's pretty obvious that this quest is different from what you have been doing so far. I mean how could eating delicious food be a trap?"
[A trap? I don't even know what to say anymore. Can you at least check out the road that is just a little bit further?]
"Oh I plan on doing that, but after I finish this meal."
[And so, finishing up his meal, the young hero made his way to a road that cut through the forest. Tasked with the decision of figuring out which way to go, he roughly understood that Sora Village was somewhere to the South-East. Therefore, he went to his right and traveled back to that friendly village.]
"Left it is then."
[...]
[Ugh, getting the feeling that he needed to save somebody else, the young hero decided to walk away from the obvious correct choice and put himself in danger by walking into the unknown.]