After minutes of running, I was out of the forest and into the open road. I picked up the pace and was unmindful of the stares that came my way.
There were already carriages though not many. Wagons were pulled by ox or horses. Farmers were pulling their produce towards the City, and players were walking in groups of two or three.
I felt stares my way and heard whispers, muttering if I was a player or not. They must be curious about the mask on my face.
I didn't stop, though, since the scan didn't show anything worthwhile.
Like a madman, I ran nonstop until I reached a fork in the road with a direction sign plastered on a wooden board. My face lit up when I was finally near Roselake, just a few hundred meters more. I took quick, deep breaths and proceeded onwards to Roselake.
As I neared the City, the inhabitants and players alike increased. The wagons and caravans also doubled. It must be because of the event.
Looking over, I saw a small town near a lake and mountains. Its Dutch gable roofs were made of only one colored tile, and that was light blue like the sky that was about to turn orange. Bundles of balloons and banners hung in ropes coming from arch windows. And its white-colored walls were eye-catching even from afar.
Finally!
I immediately scanned the place and only noted the important things that I thought would endanger my life.
There was only one person or player . . . that had his ATP already nearing the hundreds, and the rest were simply struggling in the two digits. But not enough to match mine especially if I equip Lucy. That thought alone added to my confident and I got a bit reckless in my actions.
As I neared the gates, I skidded to a stop for a moment at the sight of the long line at the entrance.
Great!
Just when I was hurrying to get inside, I was stopped for a silly reason, like a long line.
I was running out of patience, and maybe I should pull out the [Hex Bomb] and [Acid of Despair] just to thin the line. Secretly, of course.
The commotion would surely cause a riot, and I could slip without anyone noticing.
I was beginning to entertain the idiotic idea as the clock tick and tock while I was just standing like a broken machine on the line.
There seemed to be a commotion at the entrance, and I didn't have the patience to wait anymore, especially that I was also pressed of time.
Getting the [Hex Bomb] and [Acid of Despair], I was ready to cause an even greater commotion and slip towards the entrance without a second thought.
With the potions in my hand, I was about to secretly open the cork and throw it forward when my arm stopped like I was paralyzed. Starting from the head, the tingle crawled to my fingers until to the tip of my toes.
And everything went black after that.
*pant
*huff
I panted and took a deep breath before I immediately pulled off from the line, went away from the others, and hurled whatever food I took that day.
There was no grotesque image like flesh and bones, but the thought that I had killed a player, a human being, made my stomach twist and my mind blank out.
I was fine with the virginity thing but killing a player, a human being -- was out of the line!
I panted and huffed. Taking deep, quick breaths, I choked and vomited again.
Within a day that I activated [Evil Heart], I killed a player, an inhabitant, and I lost my virginity.
Too much to take in, in just one day!
Shut up!
I wanted to wipe the saliva and vomit off my lips, but the mask was hindering my hands.
I pulled the mask off my face, unminding the pain when it felt like peeling off my skin when I removed it.
I could only hope that it didn't damage my face.
I don't care about that!
I took another round of calming breaths. I didn't know that activating [Evil Heart] would leave me in a mess. I was hoping that it would help me forget about the pain, but it tripled it in just a day!
NO!
I was afraid of what might happen if I activated it again. Just one day . . . ONE DAY and I already killed two and lost my virginity to a woman I just met.
Who knew what would happen next if I didn't stop it just in time and finally took over? That guy was so crazy he was willing to kill everyone just because of a line?
Who does that?!
NO!
I refuse to accept that guy as me!
He was not me!
That guy was crazy and a psychopath!
What do you mean, get things done?!
His plan was to massacre players and steal their tokens. How is that getting things done?
Shut up!
I would never activate that thing again.
Killing players and stealing their Tokens wasn't the only option. I would enter the competition and ally myself in a territory.
That's the only safe and reliable way. And if I would add, the sanest and humane thing to do.
Nobody would know!
I could just lie? Right?
That's not a problem, I thought.
It was better than massacring everyone.
At least this option was safer, and I wouldn't die from conscience and guilt.
I wasn't even sure if allying myself with a territory would really kill me. If they found out about my ATP and Tokens, maybe they would fight to have me in their lands just like what I read in manhuwas.
We wouldn't know unless we tried.
After I calmed and cleaned myself, I put on the [Evil Toothy Maw] again. I had to agree that I felt at ease wearing the mask since it hid my appearance. I felt somewhat safe, knowing that no one would recognize me.
Although the mask was so scary and attracted a lot of attention. Not to mention the [Fear] it casted to others.
I went back to the long line and waited patiently. So many things were on my mind, but I couldn't think of anything. It felt like my head was empty and hollow just like my heart. But the pain and guilt just kept stabbing me like a knife.
The sun was going down fast until it was my turn to be inspected by the guards. After showing my badge and letting me pass without trouble, that was when I released a big sigh of relief before proceeding to the Mayor's House.