Chapter 12 - Ah my Goddess?

Bladrayne the Goddess of Death.....

"You said you were a goddess of fairness," Eidos couldn't help but express skepticism, his brows furrowing.

He felt like the goddess merely shrugged indifferently. "I mean, I. AM. a goddess, and 'death' is fair to everyone, so it's pretty much the same."

Eidos reluctantly conceded, "I-I guess."

"Anyway, If you truly seek to gain power that can rival high-level players, you'll need a far superior gear," the goddess Bladrayne advised, as she assessing Eidos' current armor.

Eidos raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "This isn't enough?" he inquired.

Bladrayne's voice turned solemn. "The KingsWolf armor that you wear is suitable for evasion and pursuit, but its offensive capabilities are lacking against high-level players. While the berserk skill can provide a substantial boost, it comes with significant drawbacks. Seasoned players would simply bide their time for the three minutes to pass before striking."

Eidos contemplated her words, realizing the perilous nature of relying solely on the berserk skill. "I hadn't considered that," he admitted, acknowledging the inherent risks.

"As you're well aware, you possess a unique ability to acquire the equipment of a merchant merely by entering their location where they sell it and you can even equip it," Bladrayne continued.

"However, this ability comes with a caveat: it only works if the merchant is already dead. If they're alive, you won't be able to obtain their gear."

Eidos nodded, understanding the implications. Disappointment gnawed at him, but he recognized that preserving the lives of these fellow merchants was a far greater priority than his own desires.

"So this is the strategy that I created," she began, her voice carrying the weight of their mission. "I know a hidden town in the far west part of this world; it's already been abandoned, so you will be able to inherit the items. The only problem is that it's really far away from here."

"The monster will be a problem when traveling for a long time, right?" Eidos voiced his concern, trying to wrap his head around the complexities of this mission.

Bladrayne's response was unexpected, and another layer of mystery unveiled itself.

"Eh? No. For starters, as you are now, most of the monsters will probably ignore you since your existence is more akin to that of a monster than a player."

Eidos blinked in surprise, his thoughts whirling. It was as though he had discovered a hidden facet of himself, something lurking beneath the surface of his persona.

Even so. The revelation didn't shock him as much as it should have; instead, it felt like a piece of a puzzle falling into place.

Bladrayne's giggle disrupted his contemplation, and he turned his attention back to the enigmatic goddess.

"The problem is, players, to be able to go to your destination, you need to enter a couple of towns that are really populated with players, and since your existence is closer to a monster, some players that have a high sense skill will have no difficulty locating you," she explained, her voice laden with gravitas.

Eidos's eyes widened, realizing the gravity of the situation. The towns filled with players would be his greatest challenge. He leaned in, eager to hear Bladrayne's solution.

"Actually, the solution is very straightforward," she began, her tone almost teasing. "Just enter the town and get out as fast as you can."

Eidos couldn't help but raise an eyebrow once more, his disbelief is evident. "Is that really it?"

Bladrayne's response was a simple "yes", and a mischievous glint danced in her voice.

"Don't I need a disguise or something? Like change my face, or my hair, or maybe put on a mask?"

"Even if you did all of that, the problem is your existence, and you can't hide "that" from a player."

Eidos sighed in resignation, a tinge of disappointment in his voice. He had hoped for a more elaborate plan.

"But you do need something, though." Bladrayne's playful demeanor returned, and Eidos's hopes rose once again.

"Really?" He couldn't hide his excitement.

Bladrayne's response, however, was unexpected and filled with a whimsical sense of humor.

"Luck! Gahahaha."

Eidos couldn't help but chuckle at her response, though it left him somewhat bemused. The goddess of death certainly had a peculiar sense of humor, and her laughter, while contagious, didn't do much to ease his concerns about the perilous journey ahead. Nonetheless, he took her words to heart, prepared to rely on both his own skills and a bit of luck as he embarked on this daunting adventure.

The goddess's demeanor suddenly shifted as she muttered, "Ah shit, my power is waning."

Despite the dire words, Eidos couldn't stifle a grin at her unfiltered language. He leaned in, curiosity piqued. "Wait, what do you mean by that?"

Her voice carried a hint of resignation as she explained, "It means this is it for me; I actually gambled when contacting you. If you didn't agree to my terms, it would be the end of me. Thank you again, Eidos. I know we will see each other again once you complete my quest."

Eidos felt a hint of sadness but instead he showed a determined smile. "Well, I guess I'll have to clear your quest faster, then."

With a sound of appreciation, the goddess voice began to fade away, leaving Eidos with a sense of intrigue and a promise of future encounters in this enigmatic world.

As Bladrayne's words hung in the air, Eidos felt a surge of determination. He knew the road ahead would be fraught with danger, but he had the guidance of the mysterious goddess and a newfound sense of purpose.

"I'll do whatever it takes," he declared, his resolve unwavering. "now let's see what the Goddess Quest looks like"

*taps*

"..."

Eidos couldn't believe his eyes as he perused the preposterous quest left behind by the goddess. He couldn't help but mutter to himself, "You've got to be kidding me."

The quest seemed like a convoluted mess of objectives, challenges, and riddles that made his head spin. It was as if the goddess had decided to play a cosmic prank on him before vanishing into thin air.

With a bemused shake of his head, Eidos couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. "Well, I guess this is the kind of Quest that I would expect from her."

"It's still ridiculous though"