Amidst the silence, Jae-Hwa opens her eyes abruptly, letting the light fill her retins with far more brilliance than normal. Her gaze wandered to her surroundings, where to her surprise she was in a different sleeping bag than the one she had remembered.
Despite the differences, her hand is immediately directed to a few strands of hair that dangled around in front of her. It was silky smooth with no residue of sweat or any other dust that could dirty it. Her fingers glided over her unusually smooth skin, free of the sweat she had built up before falling asleep, even though she hand't bathed yet.
"I didn't know if I'm gonna get used to this..." She muttered to herself before directing her attention to Castelia, the gentle trader that sat near the campfire. "It really did clean my whole body like you said."
Both shared smiles while Jae-Hwa checked her condition, something that no matter how much she tried to understand, she wasn't able to figure out if it was magic or a miracle but somehow it remained a fact that there wasn't a spec of dirt in her.
"It is a good sensation is it not? It feels like all the worry you had suddenly vanishes when you wake up."
"Even then, I think I prefer taking a bath. Nothing feels better than the relaxation it gives you."
Placing her hand on the cold floor, her eyes wander around as she remembered that the place she slept was far from the cozy campfire and Castelia's sweet lullabies.
"Hey, I don't remember sleeping here... do you know what happened?"
"Truth is I tried to stop them." The lady replies while placing her hand on her cheek, looking troubled as if her actions were really on purpose. "However, they were so passionate about distancing you from them, I wasn't able to resist."
"You should have woken me up at least, then! Who the hell were they!?"
Castelia points to a group of people, three young men in total, although one of them seemed older and more experienced. Each of them had a sort of weapon in their hands — a sword, a gun and a shield.
Strategically speaking, if they were together, they were a good team... Not only that, but they also triggered Jae-Hwa's danger sense despite being humans just like her. Her body was trembling slightly at the sight of them, as if it knew the differences in power. They were strong, far stronger than her, but even then she chose to not back away from them.
The three were together, chatting with wide nasty smiles on their faces. The one with a sword was slim and had an evil look on his face, fixing his short dark hair along with his obnoxious ego. The boy with the shield was the complete opposite, even a fly seemed to be able to hurt him while he would attempt to run from it for a short time before stopping due to his poor health condition.
Jae-Hwa compared the older and much taller man to a k-pop artist, obviously due to his over excessive looks, light-colored hair and over-the-top muscles that were almost see-through through the male's uniform. He held a silver revolver in his hand while his expression remained serious through the conversation.
Their eyes connected, both looked at each other with curiosity and caution.
"What is it you want, pipsqueak?"
"Pip— You really called me that just now, didn't you?"
Like a demon trying to break through its cage, it was only moments before Jae-Hwa's anger burst out from her and attacked the foolish man.
She was used to the looks that outsiders gave her due to her appearance and height, even if they talked behind her back, it was something that she forgave, but when listening to someone actually call out one of her inner insecurities was enough to make her blood boil with anger. Especially in a world where anybody can carry a weapon.
"You think just because you have a pretty face and toned muscles you can say whatever you want to someone older than you, you idol wannabe? Repeat that again... I dare you."
Obviously she was bluffing, there was no way to confirm what their ages were, but she wasn't able to just accept the words while they feel superior.
"You are older than us...?" All of their eyes widen in surprise, although Jae-Hwa has the same reaction since she didn't believe they would be so gullible.
"I... I'm sorry, we should have checked first. Anyways, what did you want from us, ms...?"
"Cho Jae-Hwa. I wanted to know why you moved me from my sleeping spot."
They looked at each other, storing their weapons in the inventory until their leader finally resumed the conversation.
"I am Han Daewon, the one with the sword is Bang Dong-Min and the shield is Dan Sangwook. About that... well... it was actually a group choice. Everyone seemed to be bothered by you, so when we returned from our weapon hunt, the other players looked at us and asked to move you to somewhere far from the usual resting spot."
"I don't snore that much, do I?" She asks, a slight blush forming on her cheeks.
Dong-Min jumps into the conversation, stopping the straightforward leader to say anything insensitive.
"No, no, no, of course not. It was because you were too close to the trader, I believe that they were just jealous."
Just jealous, that's all? Because I was near Castelia?
"That does remind me." She moves closer to them, putting her angry maskerade and knife in hand, pointing it to their throats, although with enough distance to not seem like a deadly threat. "You guys had a weird smile just before. What were you thinking about?"
"Well, we were..."
Daewon hits both in the head, angry as he could be. "These two idiots were having weird ideas with Castelia, something along the lines of: Just because she is an NPC, she will not mind whatever you do."
That can only mean one thing.
"Can't you guys grow up and stop having gross thoughts in this situation—? Wait, what do you mean by NPC?"
"Haven't you noticed?" Daewon replies. "This is a safe zone where no monsters are able to enter. They have a store instead of sharing their rations to improve their survival and somehow they can also give out quests, even though we can only accept, deny or see them. When you look at the nature of the system and everything involved, there is no other explanation but this being a game and those that live here being NPCs."
"But this is reality. Even with the system, this is not a game or a dream, but reality!"
"This is certainly a game. There is no other reason for this to happen to us but to be a game... one where our lives are at stake."
Their hands trembled, some even almost bled over how strong their grip was as they turned into a fist.
Jae-Hwa looks around her, wandering her eyes through the different inhabitants. They all seemed so real and vivid that she couldn't just accept it as being something as lifeless as an NPC, a character that just exists in a game.
Her eyes stopped at Marni, whose golden eyes returned the sentiment. Jae-Hwa's slender fingers brushed the side of her skirt, until they held the fabric with angst unconsciously. A motion with her head was enough to tell the little wolf girl to come to her, which she complied and walked through the commotion of players that blocked her path.
"Then tell me, Daewon. Does she seem like an NPC to you?"
"Well, that's obvious..." Everyone seemed lost with words. For a reason or another, they couldn't find what it was, but something was different about the little girl covered in a dark robe. "She seems different. It's as if there is an air around her, something that distinguishes her from the rest."
"I'm here, noona, what did you want from me?"
Noona? She never called me that before. Did something happen?
"I was just wondering. These people are stronger, so I was thinking if they wouldn't be the correct choice for your quests."
"No." The little girl held on to what covered her body, hiding behind her savior from the unknown group. Her whole body seemed to tremble beyond comparison. "Noona is the only one that can do it, no one else!"
"Even then, they are three while I am alone... wouldn't it be better for you to have more people help you?"
"No!"
"But we are all level three—" Sangwook, with his shield out, is the one to catch onto the conversation this time. "We have much better equipment and we even have one skill each."
"NO! Jae-Hwa is the only one that can help me! You are not fit for it!"
The little girl's eyes start shining blue again, her body becoming stiff and the tears that had taken form around her eyes slowly become dry.
"I'm sorry for my outbursts, but the only one that I can give my quests is this Forgotten One, you have not met the requirements."
The mechanical voice returned, as if her soul had left for just a brief moment to calm herself down. The other reason for Jae-Hwa to call her was simply for this moment, where she could look at it closer and try to figure out what was controlling her — however, if the boys' assumptions were right and she was something like an NPC, then that would explain why someone was able to control her. The only question remaining being as to why something like this keeps happening.
Marni feints to the floor, shortly waking up after from what looked like a thousand-year slumber. Her reactions were back to normal, where it can be accepted as such, but somehow she couldn't recall what had just happened.
"I don't want to give it to anyone, noona." Distressed, the little girl hugged Jae-Hwa, a tight hug that could almost melt her body from how warm it was.
"I'm sorry, I just thought you would be happy if you had more help to rescue your friends."
"My friends...? What are you talking about, noona? I went to the Ruler by myself."
She could not remember her companions. A moment of panic, pain or perhaps confusion, but no matter the attempts or questions made, she would not remember.
A cold ghostly finger brushed the spine of those present, even those who did not know the full situation could figure out that something was wrong.
"Then tell me, why did you want me to defeat it? Was it not because you wanted to help your battle companions— your friends, or at least avenge them?"
"No such thing, I just wanted to... I wanted to... I— I am sure you know why, don't worry. If anyone can do it, it's you!"
In a sense, it was a breather of fresh air to watch her smile so much, but it hurt Jae-Hwa's heart so much that it completely nullified it. In her mind, she wondered to herself if by any chance it was because of her that this was happening, because she didn't trust her.
The little crimson wolf girl yawns and tries to clean the sleep out of her eyes, proving to be inneficient. "I am going to sleep, if you need me noona, I will be in the same place." She hurriedly walks to the stairs, lying down on where it felt most comfortable.
"Alright..." Holding to her clothes with all the strength she could muster to avoid crying, all she managed to do was reply as quiet as her voice allowed. Daewon approached slowly, lowering his body and extending his arms for a forced hug, not even caring about asking if that was what she wanted at the moment.
"Stop it."
"I won't. Even if you think you don't, this is what you need. I'm sure of it."
Cho Jae-Hwa could not cry. Crying would be accepting that there was nothing else that she could do. She knows that better than anyone, but that doesn't mean that it is the end.
"She forgot them. I'm sure she even forgot who her parents were, maybe she will even forget me once this quest is done."
"Even then, you can still help her right? You still want to help her, don't you?"
"Of course I want to, but I saw the video yesterday, the one where someone was battling it. There is no way that I will be able to beat this domain's ruler by myself."
Jae-Hwa looks to her sides, both Sangwook and Dong-Min go up to her with a smile on their faces. She was sure they wouldn't just go to her with a pure reason, but somehow it felt reassuring. "Then, why don't we accompany you? If we form a team, your quest should still become completed. Right, Daewon?"
He nods as he fiddles with the air in front of him. Unfortunately, something seems to surprise him as he suddenly sighs with sadness.
"We actually can't. The size limit is three people. I'm sorry, ms. Jae-Hwa."
Her heart calmed down. Despite it beating so fast, the silliness of their actions were able to calm it down. The true meaning of their attempts became a way to make her believe in their words and on hers as well.
"It's okay." She gently pushes herself away from his forced embrace, keeping her sight to her feet. Her hand drags itself to the front of her body, creating a fist that would surpress her sadness. "I chose to fight, it's no use to be discouraged now. As long as I fight, I'm sure I will find a way."
"Even then, I want to help some more. Do you guys have any ideas?"
All start thinking in unison, showing that despite looking so different, they are the perfect combinations for each other.
Dong-Min looks down to his hand, feeling the now warm feeling of hardened leather that covered the handle of his metal sword. "That's it!" He shouts with satisfaction, presenting his weapon to the older lady in front of them.
"I saw your weapon from before. That little knife will take you nowhere and it looks like it can break at any time, so why don't we help you get a brand new weapon for yourself?"
Jae-Hwa holds her arm tightly, feeling a sense of guilt to impose as much as that. "No... I don't want to bother you with something like that, and you also need it."
"Don't worry. We will only bring you to a location that can give you a new weapon, it's a room that we found by chance and from our tests it seems to give you the one that feels more suited for you. So just, rely a bit on us, okay?"
Daewon extends his hand for once, not forcing or anything of the like, just being genuinely worried and presenting his chance for her to accept.
Grabbing hold of it, letting her fingers rest in his, Cho Jae-Hwa finally gets up with a resolve in mind and a will to keep on advancing.
"Alright, when can we go? I want to forget this as fast as possible."
"We can go now, but don't you want to tell her first?"
"No, it's okay. I can't really understand her reasons or who she really is yet, but I'm sure I will find my answers if I keep going foward. If I go talk to her now with the way that I am, I might only end ruining myself with dark thoughts again."
Even if you forget me, I will keep on going forth. At least I won't forget you and I will be sure to find out what is happening to you.
Just before leaving, she locks eyes with them, presenting her heartfelt gratitude. "Thank you very much for helping me and I'm sorry that I treated you bunch so badly. I just went for assumptions, when you were actually good guys."
"It's okay, don't worry. Because of our powers we were also full of ourselves to begin with, so having someone not being afraid of us was kind of eye-opening in a sense."
Both exchange laughs of a newfound friendship, while exchanging information between the two.
"So you can obtain new skills just by doing anything!?" Dong-Min shouted in surprise, considering something like this never went through his head.
"Well, it's not guaranteed and I don't know what exactly unlocks them, but it's what happened to me. By the way, what is this challenge you talked about?"
"As simple as it may sound..." Daewon answers. "You need to kill a gigantic monster called Slime Guardian in order to complete the challenge. After that, not only you receive experience and some drops, but also credits. You are provided a weapon, but you can only use it after winning the battle. It's basically that... simple, right?"
Jae-Hwa laughs nervously while thinking about the best options she has for killing it. A while after, everyone gets up, weapons in the ready and minds as calm as the sea on a beautiful sunny day.
Cho Jae-Hwa's eyes pale with focus, her smile disappearing to accomodate her combat-ready mode.
"Alright, let's go complete some quests."
—CURRENT STATS——————————
PLAYER NAME: CHO JAE-HWA // LEVEL: 1 <20/40 EXP>
BLESSING: none
TITLE: none
HEALTH: 110/110
DAMAGE: 10 (+3) // DEFENSE: 12 // ENERGY: 25/25
WEAPON: Damaged Knife
ARMOR: Simple Uniform
SKILLS:
CREDITS: 4