I looked at the Old Hag dead in the eyes.
"They required players?"
The Old Hag grinned. "A good bargain, if you ask me. You get to keep the players' tokens, and I get to keep them as ingredients and food for my beautiful sons."
She tilted her head to the side and flashed me a sweet smile. "And since this is our first time doing business together, I'll give all of them to you . . . for free."
She then raised her chin a little while her tongue licked her bottom lips. "And so much more . . . ," she slurred while giving me a suggestive wink.
I wasn't born yesterday, not to know what she meant.
". . ." I didn't trust her, but my eyes flicked to her items.
"My potions and hexes are one of a kind. You won't be able to find them anywhere but here." The Old Hag enticed me even more, adding to my hesitation.
"Another thing . . . I kept experimenting with new things, so come by . . . every NIGHT if you want."
". . . How do I know that you're not messing with me?"
The Old Hag chuckled. "One look, and I know I'm no match against you — especially that sword of yours. As you can see . . . you can kill me whenever you want.
"So I'm proposing a deal with you to preserve my existence and my three sons. I may be evil, but I am not a liar. And a witch's words and promise are binding."
System is what she said true?
I knew at this point in time, I was standing in a fork.
Should I just kill the Old Hag and risk getting minuscule gil and some crappy items, hoping I would recover some Tokens - as well?
Or should I trust her words and form a partnership with her and acquire her items . . . my eyes quickly traveled at the witch's alluring form . . . and obtain other benefits as well.
No matter how I see it, the latter was more appealing, especially since I was never sure I could get Tokens in the first place when I killed her.
"Very well then." The moment I agreed, a silent, dark, neon wind enveloped me, and there was a mark of a raven's skull on my left palm before it disappeared.
"With that, you can enter and exit this place as you wish," the Old Hag purred. "It's also the mark of our newfound alliance. As long as you have that mark, I can't hurt or kill you."
[Evil Minion LV.1 » 2]
Huh? Minion? Her?
<+10 000 Evil Points rewarded to Host for successfully obtaining a special minion!>
I was confused at first, but it was made clear afterward when the Old Hag appeared in my [Minion] tab as one of my minions.
Could I summon it with me to fight like Minion 0? I wonder.
It's worth the try.
"Will you come with me and fight by my side?"
The Old Hag's lips twitched a little before she shook her head. "I'm a wanted woman. I can't just go out from my lair."
‖ E V I L S Y S T E M
M A I N Q U E S T ‖
❶ Make Amara Goldstein fall in love with you and smash her heart to pieces
Rewards:
● +100, 000 EXP
❷ Kill 4 Players
There is a tournament to enter the Capital city of Rustin held in the town of Roselake. Players are seizing this chance to enter the safety of the capital and have a much greater life even as just one of the soldiers of the King and acquire many perks.
Kill four players that already have all their ATPs in the twenty digits.
Rewards:
● +40 000 EXP
● A-Grade Tokens x 4
❸ The Old Hag's Enemies
The Old Hag is a powerful ally but a nasty enemy.
However, due to her killing a lot of inhabitants and players in the past, she became a wanted woman with a hefty bounty on her head. Since then, she couldn't leave her home due to the hunters, slayers, players, and every soldier hunting her. In order to free her, you have to kill the following:
❶ Pope Reverend of the Holy Kingdom
❷ Princess Ethula of the Holy Kingdom
❸ Captain Scarface from Grado Empire
❹ Player Dimitri an Elite, Platinum wondering Slayer in the Kingdom of Trinity
Rewards:
● +100 000 EXP
‖ E N D ‖
Haa . . .
I wonder if I did this quest, will she finally leave this place and come with me?
Rather, why do I get the feeling that these people were high-ranking? A pope, a captain, and a princess? Not to mention an Elite, Platinum player?
I shook my head.
No matter. I'd think about it after I was done collecting Tokens and surviving that Apocalyptic Event, Blood Rain.
"By the way, what is your name?" I asked her.
"Name?"
"I can't be calling you Old Hag forever." Especially when she didn't look like it.
"I see . . ." She looked over at the ceiling, sharp nail over her chin, acting cute and lovable.
"How about you give me one?" she beamed.
I was caught off guard when my question was thrown back in my face. I looked to the side, thinking before my gaze went to the floor for a moment and caught my boots, and my face brightened.
"How about . . . Dementia?" What a very fitting name. Reminded me of a beautiful crazy woman.
"Dementia . . ." The Old Hag was surprised a little, and I thought that she didn't like the name I gave her because she was silent with a blank face . . . before her face melted into a genuine smile.
"I love it."
Heh . . . I see that she liked it very much when her cheeks glowed red.
"Another thing," I asked with a serious voice before grinning wide. "Is that your real appearance?"
". . ." Dementia was silent for a moment before her eyes curved upward. She giggled mischievously. "Why don't you find out? It'll only take five minutes."
"Make it ten," I said, and her smile widened.
"Boys," she called the three trolls, "Why don't you be all good dears and take a walk outside for fifteen minutes?"