The remains were only parts of the body I once moved but I felt a strange connection to those remains. It was my flesh, a body I housed in this game world before. Although it was just a game, it felt as real as reality. So, looking at my own corpse left a hint of dread in me.
My inner self wanted me to leave, or maybe even bury the remains. But a small part of me commanded me to take the coins. I needed them. If not for equipment for myself then for an escort to Daystreak and to accommodate Coven's burial.
As I picked the coins up, involuntarily, I touched some of the remains of my former body. Blood, flesh and bone. All that was left of the former me were memories that could fade in the future. Biting my lip I carried on until I collected the last coin. The equipment I wore that day must have shattered with the impact of the landing. But I had a few items left in my inventory, which were spilled around the character. I took anything of value I could find. If I couldn't use it, I would sell it and head directly towards Daystreak.
After I took anything I could find, I glanced around the clearing. A small sunray fell through the canopy and something sparkled right between the remains. I creeped closer and looked for the thing that emitted the sparkling. But there was nothing. With a sigh, I used the tankers club to bash in the remaining rib cage. The meat around the ribs was still mostly intact. As the bones splintered after a few heavy bashes, a small box came in view. It was bloody and muddy but still intact. The metallic material it was made of partly reflected the sunlight. After I touched the device, the familiar window describing the item opened.
[Name: Lesser anti-thieving device [[appraised]]
Description: A box-shaped item that is woven in magical patterns to hinder anyone from robbing you of your items. The style resembles a mini dimensional portal.
The worth of this magical equipment is 1 gold coin. This estimation is relying on the assumption that there are under thousand other similar items on the current local market.
Effect: Classes focusing on theft and people with the [theft] skill are unable to take any item placed inside the box. With every attempt to steal any item out of the box or your death, the durability will be reduced.
Durability: 239/350
Remark: Be it dentures or your sex toys, nobody will know and even want to steal it, you dirty minded pervert! Only put precious things inside or you'll anger the creator.]
My soulbound storage seemed to be no longer soulbound. I picked the box up and shoved it in my inventory. Then I used my shield as a shovel and started digging the ground to make my own grave. I didn't think I would bury my own body on my first hunt. What a messy world!
Luckily, my days in Falan were counted rather short and so I salvaged the remains of me and would do the same for Coven. I hoped I could restore my inner peace if I found out about Coven's murder. Instead it unsettled me deeply: I was Coven's murderer now and the system I wanted to blame was nothing but its very nature by erasing errors.
I had nothing left to blame but myself.
This train of thought hurt but it was the truth. I erased him finally. There was nothing left of him in this world. Wait a minute. I paused and blinked in confusion. What about the items Coven had dropped? If I remembered correctly, I claimed them before I fell down! Frantically, I searched the whole periphery of the clearing and the forest around it but found nothing he could've dropped. Strange. Since he was of a higher level than me, it was unlikely that he didn't drop anything. But even the amount of coins was the same as the one when I died.
Has anyone taken the item? But why didn't they take anything else then?
But after I didn't find anything after my prolonged search, I decided to head back to Bronning. At least I could hire an escort now and prepare a proper burial. And I could sell the items I found beside my corpse.
As I was browsing through my inventory, my eyes fell on the lesser anti-thieving device. Had I left anything of value stored inside? Not challenging my mind to remember, I summoned the box from my inventory into my hands and opened it.
A small inventory consisting of five slots opened. The lesser mystery box that the apprentice guardian of the forest dropped was still inside. And there was another item I didn't recall putting inside. The small depiction showed a cracked orb. I opened the information sheet.
[Name: Core piece of the noble demon [Covenant Avenger] (Soulbound item)
Description: The last remains of the noble demon [Covenant Avenger]. While the surface is mostly cracked, the item still contains unimaginable streams of magic and demonic energy.
Effect: Holding the item directly will cause permanent death. Anyone who owns this is cursed by all demons. If they are summoned into the mortal plane and in a 100 km reach, they will search and attack you, as you have dishonored the remains of one of the noble demons. While you possess this item, they will regard you as the one who killed a noble demon. The temporary title [Demonslayer of Daystreak] will be bestowed on you.
Title: [Demonslayer of Daystreak]
Title effect: Any demon will recognize you as a mortal enemy. Humans will be wary of you as you exude the demonic energy of the demon you kill faintly. The lawful good factions and churches who antagonize demons have slightly increased favorability.
Remark: Better be prepared for heaty meeting with demons from your neighborhood.~]
"What the…" I mumbled after reading through the information sheet. It seems I was indeed right. Coven dropped something. But I wasn't sure if it was anything good. I couldn't even sell or get rid of the item without dying. And I was level 1 right now. Any demon could kill me with the smallest effort. My former plan to just let myself be escorted fell apart like a house of cards. Did demonkin count as well? It was a fairly new class and not widespread but if they would attack me as well, I would be doomed.
And what is going on with the remarks?! They are getting out of hand. I was almost tempted to report this one. At least it didn't 'warn' me of demonic rods or anything.
But I had to get stronger. Strong enough to reach Daystreak and hold the funeral without intervention of some demonic guests. Level 20 should be enough. This way, I would be safe from the majority of the players in Daystreak and be able to kill the monsters on the way. But how the hell will I be able to level up while being a tanker?! But since I couldn't change my class right now, I decided to stick as long with it as needed.
I just had to learn something new, right?