Charley quickly made his way to the mine once again and walked past everybody to the exit.
[Well that was quite interesting wasn't it?]
"Nope, I got the feeling that he would haunt me for the rest of my life if I stayed one second longer."
[Ha, look at the bright side, at least you would finally have a friend in this world.]
"A friend that one day might have a breakthrough and then use me as a sacrifice. Not really my idea of a friend."
[I don't know what to say, if you had listened to me from the start at least you would have met normal people on your journey.]
"It's looking more and more like that might be an alright option."
[Wait seriously? If you head back towards the village, you can take that road out of town all the way until Sora Village.]
"Don't get ahead of yourself Mr. Voice. There is no way I will fall for that obvious of a trick."
Finally, Charley reached the exit and approached the man once more.
"Ya didn't manage to find anything today huh? Bad luck that is."
"No, I didn't get any materials, but I found a hidden path at the end of the mine. It seems to lead down to some sort of ancient temple."
After his words, the man straightened out his posture and gave Charley his full attention.
"Are ya serious young man? If that's true this will be big news for this town."
After seeing Charley nod, the man called over a worker and asked him to verify the information. However, before he left, Charley added, "I think there might be a ghost down there as well, so don't go with any bad intentions."
"A ghost you say? Go down and check, but come straight back you hear?"
It took some time, but eventually the worker verified the information after he came back.
"Hmm, so it looks like an ancient Atzotl temple huh? Here, new blood. I'll give you a silver coin for your discovery. Go back and get some rest. I'm sure the local lord will send some people out by tomorrow and they might want to speak with you. Prepare yourself."
The manager of the mine gave Charley a meaningful look, but Charley simply thanked him and went on his way.
[Hmm, let's see here. Finishing up his job in the local mine, Charley stepped outside to find that it was already night. Knowing that he would have a long journey back to Sora Village tomorrow, he decided to get some sleep at the inn.]
"I think we all know that there is no way I'm going back to that village at this point."
[Yeah, I feared as much. But how about we do it like this, what's your favorite thing to do?]
"Hmm, my favorite thing? Well before I was brutally murdered I'd have to say I quite enjoyed leisure activities such as playing games or watching shows."
[Oh yes! I know exactly what to do then. How about we play a bit of a game ourselves?]
At the mention of games, a light seemed to shine in Charley's eyes.
[And what fun would a game be if it didn't have some stakes to it? How about we place a bit of a gamble on the outcome of this game?]
"What did you have in mind?"
[Let's say that if I win this game, you have to do one thing that I tell you and if you win, then I'll do something that you say.]
"But can you actually do much? I mean you are just a voice..."
[I might just be a voice, but I'm also filled with information about this world. You could ask me anything and I would be bound to answer you truthfully.]
"Information huh? That could be very useful... Would I at least be able to choose this game?"
[You know what? Yes. You can choose the first game and then we can alternate if we decide to continue.]
Hearing that a broad smile formed on Charley's face.
"I know just the game then. We can start as soon as I get my room at the inn."
[Great, I'm looking forward to it.]
Eventually Charley made it to the inn and was greeting by a lively atmosphere inside.
[Even though the citizens look absolutely miserable, they sure do party quite hard.]
Many of the patrons seemed to be doing drinking games while others boasted of grand adventures. At least to Charley, this seemed to be quite reasonable. Soon a shriveled up old man approached Charley at the door.
"What'll it be traveler?"
"Ah forgive me sir. I was wondering if I could get some food and then a room to stay for the night."
The old man smiled at his words revealing that he was missing most of his teeth.
"I'm no sir, traveler. You can just call me ol' cout. Everybody else does and to be honest I can't even remember my name anymore hehe."
The old man started wheezing in the middle of his laugh to the point that Charley couldn't tell if he was still laughing or just coughing.
"Well anyway, spose it's a couple of copper for a meal and a bed."
Charley nodded his head and then handed him the silver coin that he got earlier.
"Here's all I got ol' Cout. Hopefully I can get a big meal with it."
"Woo wee, a silver! I suppose I can whip you up a real big meal with that much."
"That would be much appreciated."
After that Charley went to find a chair, but couldn't help but overhear some people yelling to ol' cout.
"Hey old man, when's our food gunna get here?"
"What does it look like I work here? Get your own goddamn food."
And with that ol' cout went through a door presumably to the kitchen.
[It never ceases to amaze me how you find yourself in these situations. Didn't you just give away all of your money to some crazy guy that doesn't even work here?]
"Oh please, Mr. Voice. You don't understand people like I do. That man obviously works here. I mean why else would he ask me what he can help with and also quote a room for the night."
[To pose as somebody who works here so that he can steal your money. I mean you obviously fit into the demographic of an easy target to steal from.]
"Tsk tsk, you have much to learn Mr. Voice. You'll see."
After that he sat in silence listening to the various tales of the drunken patrons. He heard various tales of fighting mythical beasts, saving lost princesses, and finding buried treasure. Really he had to applaud their imaginations. It wasn't everyday that he could hear somebody talking seriously about hunting down a dragon. Truly a fantasy world.
Time passed slowly and eventually most of the patrons decided to go to sleep for the night, but Charley stayed in his seat.
[Hahaha, I can't keep it in anymore. How long will you sit here until you realize that you were scammed?]
"Oh please, the food should be here any minute now."
[You're actually ins--]
Cutting off the voice's words, the door swung open once again and in walked the old man carrying a large tray containing a mountain of meat.
"Sorry it took so long, I didn't have anything worth that much money so I had to go hunt a boar real quick and then prepare it. Hope you enjoy."
"Please don't mind it ol' cout."
Then as if nothing was wrong with the situation, Charley started eating while ol' cout sat down across from him.
They sat in silence while Charley ate for a while.
"Man working in the mines really works up your appetite. I can eat way more now than when I was eating that horned rabbit earlier."
His comment in passing caused ol' cout's jaw to drop.
"You mean you actually had the opportunity to hunt a horned rabbit?"
"Yeah, I killed and ate one just before coming to town. I think the meat was a bit too fatty, but it was good nonetheless."
A moment of silence settled before ol' cout abrutly stood up knocking his chair to the ground. He then knelt down in front of Charley.
"You must be a legendary figure if you can hunt the horned rabbit. Please take me in as your disciple!"
"..."
[...]
"I think I'm going to go ahead and turn in for the night."
Charley got up and started walking for the stairs, but the old man kept shuffling along behind him still on his knees.
"Please sir! I've dreamt of the days when I could hunt a horned rabbit. That giant boar earlier is nothing compared to your accomplishment."
Hearing the man's pleading, Charley quickened his pace, but somehow the old man matched it all while remaining on his knees. Soon Charley broke into a sprint until he found an open room and then slammed the door behind him.
"My god, I can't understand the people of this world."
Charley sat down on his bed while drenched in sweat.
[Just when I think you are the weirdest person in this world, I am proven wrong by the people you somehow find.]
"Don't you put this on me, strange voice. I think it's pretty obvious that you keep sending really strange people to get me to want to return to that town."
[...]
[If only that were the case.]
[So anyway, you mentioned that we can play the game when you got to your room?]
Charley let out a deep sigh and then approached the wall.
"Alright, the game is guessing how long it will take me to fall asleep."
[Oh, an interesting choice. Alright, if we take into account how long the average person takes to fall asleep I will guess around 15 minutes.]
A smile spread on Charley's face.
"Oh you have much to learn, I guess instantly."
And with that he slammed his head into the wall and crumpled down to the ground.
[...]
[I take it back, the young hero is definitely the strangest person in this world.]