"Come in~."
I admit that I didn't expect The Old Hag's voice to be this enticing and alluring. Far from the voice of an old lady.
I was expecting a gory croaky voice or a voice of an old cat forced inside a blender. Not something of a tone that reminded me of a seductive teacher seducing her innocent students.
But then again, she might have just taken the voice of another.
I opened the door and let myself in.
I expected to be greeted with giant axes from the Trolls and hexes from a scary-looking old witch with a sharp broad nose, wrinkly ugly face full of warts, and a creepy smile that would haunt me in my most demented dreams.
But I never expected to see a lovely lady with long raven curls cascading down to her long shapely legs, sitting comfy on a dining chair while her enormous breasts almost slipped out from the low hem of her robe when she leaned, chin resting on her crossing fingers as she slurred.
"Welcome ~"
Her seductive eyes were obsidian black with sparkles of greenish hues while her pouty red lips popped against her grayish luminous skin. There was also a big raven's skull on top of her head that had rows of sharp teeth.
A beautiful woman enough to be mistaken as a Goddess.
A Goddess of curses. I mused to myself.
"I won't waste any of your time," I said straight to the point. "I am in need of tokens, and I heard that you have plenty of them."
The Old Hag merely tilted her head. "What's the rush? Why don't you sit first?"
Her voice was deep and a little raspy. Slow and low and definitely teasing.
I looked over at the three trolls behind her. Her beauty only intensified at how ugly looking her background was.
"Don't worry . . . they don't bite," The Old Hag giggled. "Not yet . . ."
"I am in a hurry, and I don't have time to waste," I told her. "Either give me the Tokens, or I'll force it out from your hands."
The three trolls let out a low rumble from their chest while the Old Hag raised her hand, stopping them from attacking me.
She rose from her seat, and I got the front row view of her curves. She was a head shorter than me, and her black robe hugged her body like a second skin, only loosening around her legs, but not before showing the shape of her dainty waist and wide hips.
If she were in our world, she would definitely grace a popular sexy magazine, and all the boys would fantasize about her.
Unfortunately, I was more interested in the Tokens and saving my life than her alluring frame.
The Old Hag swayed towards me and stopped just a meter.
"Oh~ Aren't you a looker? I can see that even behind your terrifying mask." The Old Hag crossed her hands, pushing her breasts up while placing a finger over her red lips. "Don't you want to stay for a while and keep me company?"
My eyelid twitched and my fingers itched to call Lucy. "No. Stop wasting my time. Where are the Tokens?"
The Old Hag chuckled. "My, how impatient."
She straightened her back. Her breasts jiggled as she did so before her head looked over the ceiling, a finger pressing her chin. "Hmmmm~ let's see . . . all those tokens are gone, you see. I used it as materials for my potions."
". . ." I didn't know if the Old Hag was lying or not. My Scan was limited because she was an inhabitant, so I couldn't look into every detail of her items or every item in her house for that matter. I didn't even know what I would get if I killed her.
I was going to summon Lucy and be done and over with this when the Old Hag beamed.
"No need for violence. Though I don't have the tokens anymore, I have a much greater deal for you."
I got to admit that got me interested. "What deal?"
"I saw your fight with our girl Lisa and based on your conversation with her . . . you're a newbie, right? After all, no one should have found this place if they were not greenhorns. However, you are stronger than her."
She zoomed forward and leaned closer to my face. I took a step back when the tip of our noses was about to touch. Neon greenish hues circled her pupils around and around like she was hypnotizing anyone who looked into her eyes.
"This baffles this great witch . . . Who exactly are you?"
Her hot breath fanned my face as she spoke, but contrary to my imagination, her breath didn't smell rotten like dead fish and raw meat. It was like herbs. Minty herbs.
"Let's just say . . . I'm a special player."
The Old Hag stared into my eyes some more before she pulled away and giggled.
"Is that so? Then perhaps you're interested in doing business with me? Instead of killing me and not getting anything but EXP and gil, how about I help you . . . and in return, give me fresh meat. Since Lisa is gone, I will have a hard time acquiring fresh meat for my ingredient and three beautiful sons."
My eyes shifted briefly at the trolls. They grinned with their wide mouth and set of rotten misshaped teeth.
I stared at the Old Hag suspiciously, but I had to admit that I got curious at what she said.
"How can you help me?" I questioned.
The Old Hag beamed. "Look into my wares, and I can supply you with any potion and curses you need."
I was shocked when a sudden box appeared on my face. And contained in this box was a list of items that piqued my interest.
[The Old Hag's Brew for Today!
● Curse Poultice x1
A dark, smelly potion made from all sorts of fleshy ingredients, perfected and potent to give anyone a disease that couldn't be cured, dying a horrific death.
Cost: 5 players
● The Living-Dead Doll x1
You only need a hair, and this doll will do the rest. Perfect for controlling someone to obey your every command.
Cost: 7 players
● Acid of Despair x1
A strong acid that would surely eliminate anything in your path. Even the strongest metal would melt faced with this poison.
Cost: 4 players
● Hex Bomb x1
An area bomb that puts multiple curses on your enemies.
Cost: 10 players
● The Dead's Scream x1
A jar containing nothing but tortured souls that, when opened, released a piercing cry that would surely stun all your foes for ten seconds.
Cost: 4 players]