Upon my return to Explorer's bounty, I immediately head upstairs to my room to rest for the night.
The next day, I eagerly get out of bed and embark on my next adventure. More of a walk really.
Based on the directions the old man gave me, I need to walk for an hour or two and arrive at a beautiful field of flowers.
My Raven Sentinel- Sheesh, I really need to make up a name for him, but I don't know what to call him. I'm really bad with names. Meh, I'll get to it when I get to it.
Anyway, the adorable bundle of black feathers was still asleep in his nest, so I left him behind. It's not like he's useful in battle anyway, yet. I wonder if he'll level up after consuming a Slime Core.
Crap! I should have used the Profile to check on him earlier.
Oh, well. I'll do it later when I get back, if I still remember that is.
I walk along the path, fertile grasslands, an occasional far-off settlement.
Eventually, reach Fairy Tear Meadow.
If I'm allowed only one word to describe it would be magnificent.
It looks like something straight out of an anime. Stretching as far as the eye could sea is an ocean of flowers. Blazing red, cheerful yellow, innocent white. I'm no botanist, but I sure as hell know there has to be a hundred different species living in this area.
To my left, is the beautiful crystal-clear Fairy Tear River, supposedly created from the sorrow of the Demigod, what's her name? Diana?
Next to the river, I see the statue the old florist mentions. Shining beneath the sunlight, the devote figure of a eight-foot tall maiden clad in white robes looking up at the sky. The face is worn away by time and rain, but from the story the Old Man Otto is it? Crap, can't believe I forgot such an interesting guy's name. Anyways, from the story, I can only assume the statue of Diana is weeping in sorrow at the loss of her lover.
As I observe a statue, I notice another figure next to the statue. Didn't notice them at first since they are also dressed in white and even had white hair. Perhaps it's a local elderly priest coming to pay respects to a hero like I am.
With curiosity running through my mind and flowers in hand, I walk toward the statue.
When I get closer I notice the white figure is not an old man or woman, but an Elf! A beautiful silvery-haired Elf with alabaster skin and the most elegant of silver armors hidden beneath a cloak! Strapped to her waist is a longsword. Simple in appearance but exuding a holy aura demanding everyone's attention.
I walk up to the Elf, wanting to greet her. Before I could do so, I had a sudden premonition of impeding danger, kind of like the tingles a person gets when they get stared at.
My senses prove themselves right.
What on Earth!?!
I barely had time to blink before a sword flashed right in front of me. I instinctively block the blade within a second. Unfortunately, when I drew my blades, I chucked the flowers I carried to the side.
Despite the avoiding a lethal blow. My body rockets backwards in a bent L-shape.
My body rolls over the fields several times, covering my clothes with dirt and and fresh flowers.
I take a look and am simply stunned by the thirty-foot human-sized dirt skid mark I made on the ground. The thing sullying the perfect beauty of the flower field like a scar.
Right now is not the time to be mourning the loss of some replaceable plants. Had I been a moment too late to block that, my head would've flown off my shoulders! I'm surprised my body's still in one piece without broken bones.
Ugh, I really need a five minute break.
Unfortunately, my attacker does not share my sentiments, "Hmph, not bad. For a cultist at least."
Such a beautiful voice, yet it sends chills down my voice as though someone dumped a bucket of ice cubes down my spine.
I try to reason with the Elf, "Wait, what? Now hang on just a minute!"
Her ice blue eyes don't show the slightest bit of hesitation as she continues her advance with longsword in hand. In her eyes, I'm nothing but a chore. No, people can struggle with chores. It's more apt to say I am a pebble stuck in her shoe she can easily pluck out.
My gamer instincts kick in for the second time, not only is it impossible for me to beat her in my current state, but I should run for the hills, right now.
Without much thought, I use the entirety of my body weight to dive to the right. As I did, a flash is all I see before the earth implodes. The shockwave sends me hurtling through the air. I perform majestic a belly flop and land flat on the ground, face-first.
Pain ripples through my body as though a crew of construction workers hit me simultaneously with a sledgehammer. This feels worse than the time I fell from a skateboard and landed on hard concrete.
Why the hell do they even have pain registering in this game!?!
As much as I want to lie on the ground for several hours and sob like a newborn infant. I need to get up and run for my life.
There's just one problem.
This sword wielding b*tch won't stop trying to kill me!
A flash of light blinds my eyes forcing me to leap out of the way. This time, the attack came faster. Although I managed
Before I can even blink, the crazy Elf appears right before my eyes. Did she teleport or jump? I couldn't care less considering I'm about to be bisected.
Shit! What can I possibly due mid-air!? I don't have any
Right! I forgot! I can use magic!
But all my spells are low level!?!
Screw it! It's do or die!
In all likelihood. I'm going to die, but at least I'm doing it with a bang.
"Eat this! Flaming Hands!"
With as much mana as the spell allows to be charged with. I unleash my spell
"Phew! I'm saved."
"Really?"
"Yeah! Now I better run back to-"
...
I turn around and see the Elf with a murderous look in her eyes.
"Goddamnit."
"Goddamnit's right. You nearly singed my hair. Prepare to pay."
For the next minute, or is it two? To me it felt agonizingly long, why is it always the painful memories that seem to stretch out for the longest and the sweet ones have to be so fleeting?
However long or short the time was, several craters dot the once beautiful meadow. It's akin to someone poking holes in the Mona Lisa in the Louvre.
Oh, did I mention I lost my swords? Yeah, tried to block one of the Elf's attacks head-on, but she sent my blades flying to who knows where.
I didn't bother to go try and retrieve them since 1. They're useless. 2. They're too dang far away. 3. If I don't focus, I'm going to die.
The only offensive means I have in my arsenal are my Novice Spells and Cants. Even they are useless before my opponent, who doesn't bother to block them.
Even my favorite Eldritch Bolt didn't even leave a scratch on her marble skin.
So I'm weaponless, I'm low on Mana, and I'm exhausted. To top it off, I somehow pissed off an Immortal Elven Swordmaster.
Crap! Crap! Crap! Damn that clerk! How the f*ck did a herb-gathering quest turn into a fight a fight for my life!?!
I accidentally get to caught up internally screaming out my frustrations. I trip and fall to the ground. Is it from a stone, my own klutziness or simply exhaustion? I don't know. What I do know is I'm about to die if I don't do something this very moment!
You know what? Let's throw my pride as a gamer and man out the window. What's the point of looking cool if you're buried six feet under!
"Wait! Please! Stop!"
While preparing to unleash another strike, the Elf speaks the most she has yet, "There's no use pleading for mercy. No matter how well you conceal it, I sense the vile darkness of Undeath within you."
Undeath? Is she talking about my Reborn race? That's the whole reason she's attacking me!?
Sh*t! If I've known this is how I'll end up picking the Reborn, I would've picked a different Race instead!
I perform a T sign with my hands and beg, "Time out! Just give me five minutes to explain!"
"And why would I do that?" replies the straight-faced Elf.
"If I don't convince you within five minutes. You can kill me, I won't resist."
She glares at me for a long moment and demands, "Swear it upon the name of Justaris."
Without hesitation, I comply, "I swear upon the name of Justaris!"
The Elf lowers her sword. Thank god, It seems I'm saved, for now. I better not mess up my answers lest I get my head lopped off like a certain French Queen who told her starving subjects to eat cake.
Her next words make me panic and break out in cold sweat, "You have two minutes, if I this turns out to be a trick, I won't give you the mercy of a quick clean death."
What? "But I said five-"
"One minute and fifty-five seconds left."
"Okay! Okay! Here!"
I hurriedly reach into my pockets, the Elf's icy blue eyes following taking out my F-rank Adventurer ID card and showing it to her.
"What's this supposed to prove? Anyone with enough money or skill can forge one of these things. Even if this is the real article, then the Guild must be corrupt or dire straits to allow someone like you to become an Adventurer."
Oof! I know I look sinister, but being told this by a beautiful lady somehow stings way more!
Actually, here's a crazy idea. How about I take off my mask! Sure I'm dressed funny, but's my bird- I mean raven mask getting in the way of my innocent looks!
With a swift motion, I throw off my hood and take off my mask, "There! Do I look like a cultist!?"
The Elf is taken aback for a moment but quickly replies, "Oh. You're not bad-looking, pretty close to my preferences, it's a shame you're going to die. Don't worry, I'll cleanly cut your head off from your neck and keep it as a trophy."
"No! That's not what I meant! Do you not know what I am!?"
"A slightly good-looking cultist?"
"No! I'm a Reborn!"
"Never heard of it."
Shit! I forgot Reborn's a DLC race! Of course most people wouldn't know what a Reborn is!
I have to think of another convincing reason.
"Look! I just woke up here in the Frontier like three days ago! The only reason why I have this Undead aura is because of an experiment gone wrong!"
It's not exactly a lie, some Reborns are brought to life by the experiments of some madman seeking eternal life. I also said probably, a rather loose word, creating ambiguity, but one perfect to use to avoid lie detection.
With narrow eyes sharper than the blade she held, she scrutinizes every word I say. I wonder if lie detection is even a thing in this world. It's certainly possible in the TTRPG version of M and M. I hope it's not the case here.
"Let me take a closer look. Keep your hands in the air."
I straighten my hands high into the air. If any of my game buddies saw me in this state, they'd be laughing their butt off. The great and mighty scourge of TTRPG campaigns has finally been humbled by a silver-haired elf beauty. I swear this looks like some sort of outlandish mature fantasy roleplay where the cultist and captured princess have their roles reversed.
The Elf comes up close, leaning in to my face. I can't help but remark what a nice chin and jawline she has. Mwah! Chef's kiss! She's like a female Sigma! I don't mean to say her jaw is muscular, but just so perfect.
While I drink in her beauty, the Elf finishes her examination and declares her findings, "Hmm, you're weak, much weaker than I thought. You're either good at Illusion Magic or you're telling the truth.
I sense a mixing of both Life and Unlife. Similar to a man on Death's doorstep. Except you're clearly alive and have the ability to elude my half-hearted attacks."
Half-hearted!?! You mean I would've been dead from the start if you went all-out!?! What sort of mad NPC did the Gods put in this game!?!
The Elf asks me, "Who exactly are you?"
How should I answer her? I can't just tell her I'm from another world, she'll think I'm lying or crazy. If it's the former, then she'd definitely slice me in half with her longsword.
"My name is Ren, and I'm from someplace far away."
"Where exactly?"
"Someplace you probably wouldn't know."
"Try me."
"Asia, Japan, Tokyo."
The elf's face contorts in confusion and unfamiliarity at my response, "I've never heard of those places, yet you seem to be telling the truth. How did you manage to get here?"
"I made a bargain with a higher being."
In the blink of an eye, I felt the cold blade of steel pressed against my neck, just a millimeter away from piercing my skin.
"What higher being is this?" she demands with a hostility in her eyes.
I bet my entire savings if I said I made a deal with a Demon, she'd immediately lop my head right off my shoulders the next second. But I also doubt telling her I met one of the dev's who created the game world she lives in isn't going to fly either.
Looks like I have to give another obscure answer, "I can assure you the one who I made a deal with isn't a Demon, you could say there on the same level as the Gods."
It's not a lie, I did ask my Profile to find me a non-Evil Curseblade Patron.
Another moment of long silence pervades the air. Eventually the Elf removes the blade from my neck and sheathes it. I let out a mental sigh of relief. For a moment, I thought I'd surely be decapitated.
The next words ease my worries further, "There were no lies in your words as far as I can tell."
I let out another successive mental sigh of relief. Thank goodness she didn't decide to kill me. It would've been a sick joke for my adventure to start and end in less than a week.
However, her next words doused my hopes, "However, I still can't trust you."
"Eh?" Am I still going to die.
"Hence, why I'll be monitoring you for the time being."
...
"Okay, I guess?"
Christ! This girl needs to give me the news straight! Is she or is she not going to kill me!? I hate it when people dance around like that.