The four-armed alien approached me confidently, accompanied by his companions, and addressed me with assertiveness, saying, "Hey, young human boy. Would you mind joining our party for a quest to hunt down Two Iron Horns on the surface?"
Usually, I preferred to undertake quests with my two friends or go solo, battling dimensional creatures that were either at my level or lower. Therefore, my response was straightforward as I told him, "Thanks for the offer, but I'm here solely to purchase an artifact."
I lived by a set of rules, to stay away from unnecessary trouble and not indulge in high-risk activity. That of course, included, not drinking alcohol and smoking as they were clearly bad for my body.
This was why many people called me boring, but I actually considered that as a compliment. In a world full of insane people, at least I was sane enough to think things through.
The dwarf-like creature then stepped forward, with an indirect mocking tone, he said "You know, human, we can see you're wearing battle armor. That's why we invite you to be our tank. You just need to tank for us and do nothing else since all humans are weaklings anyway."
His babbling, giggling voice really suits his size.
Being aware of their tendency to look down on humanity and even sometimes considered us as an outsider from beyond TWOD as this was their setting, I chose to ignore his comment and merely shook my head in disbelief.
As I continued walking past the Hoja man, I suddenly felt a pair of green hands grab my shoulder and pull me back. The four-armed alien then stated, "Where are you going, kid? If you don't join our party, then you must pay us 1000 coins for wasting our time."
Although I knew they were merely non-playable characters (NPCs), these people were truly getting on my nerves. I forcefully shook both of his hands off my shoulder and turned to lock eyes with him, causing him to flinch.
At that moment, the elf girl intervened, wearing a smile and speaking in a confident voice. She said, "Sorry if we scared you. We're in dire need of additional help, and we genuinely need to defeat the Two Iron Horns today before anyone else does, to secure a ten thousand coin bonus from Eternia's headquarters."
Given that the Two Iron Horns were A-tier dimensional creatures and the four of us alone would not be sufficient to defeat them, I suspected they must have a hidden plan that I was yet unaware of. The situation seemed suspicious, but the girl appeared sincere in her invitation. Deciding to tag along, I resolved to bring someone else with me who wasn't part of their group, just in case they decided to betray me.
It wouldn't pose a major issue since I still had four hours remaining before school started. However, if I didn't notice my friends coming online, I would decline their offer.
Most importantly, these persistent NPCs wouldn't leave me alone and might even begin spying for me as I departed from the city for revenge if I declined them.
To be cautious, I began to check my friend's active status, I activated a display panel by swiping my pointed finger through the air. instantly, a blue panel materialized before my eyes, showing my friend lists and their online/offline statuses. There were only five individuals listed, and unfortunately, two of my closest friends were offline at this moment.
Given the recent incidents of players being murdered after joining suspicious parties after leaving Eternia City, going alone with them was out of the question. In this game, death meant the deletion of the avatar, which was why rankers always carried teleportation orbs in case their health bar was about to reach zero. There had been protests against this system, but the world government implemented it to establish the equivalence of in-game currency and real-life value, encouraging players to consider the game as their second life rather than a mere virtual pastime.
My decision was clear: I would decline their offer and lay low until I was no longer a target.
"I don't thin--" I opened my mouth, but abruptly, a calm yet commanding voice interrupted me.
"Apologies if I'm interfering. I couldn't help but overhear your conversation, and I find it intriguing," the mysterious person said from not so far away.
The four-armed green man displayed a displeased countenance and clenched his jaw tightly, uttering his words in a low and guttural tone.
"Interested? A weak, fragile human like you won't bring us much profit," the four-armed alien responded, expressing disapproval and annoyance in his calm voice.
This NPC really sticks to his role very well. After all, humanity was the most hated race in The World of Dawn, and we were even considered outsiders.
Curious, I turned to locate the source of this captivating voice that disrupted our conversation.
Emerging from a corner of the crowd, a fragile, slender yet exotic young girl gracefully made her way towards me and reached the spot beside where I stood, now beside me stood a female figure dressed in a flowing blue robe and a white dress that covered her entire body up to the neck with a purple necktie.
Her long purple hair was elegantly tied in a ponytail with a purple ribbon, partially obscuring her right eye, while the rest of her hair cascaded down to her hips.
One thing that I immediately noticed about her was a beautiful mark, a small black mole situated on her left cheek and the corner of her right eye.
She wore a nonchalant smile that conveyed a sense of being entirely in charge of the situation.
Approaching me, she briefly gazed into my eyes with her piercing purple eyes before turning away, while the three NPC who had tried to persuade me exchanged doubtful glances among themselves, clearly not expecting this turn of events. However, the elf girl whispered something to the four-armed alien, and suddenly a wicked smile crept across his face. Was it my imagination?
"Human lady, you may join us. Rest assured, after we defeat our target, you will receive a 15 percent share of the profit," the four-armed alien declared confidently.
It seemed like this guy had forgotten about me, however, while engrossed in their conversation, oblivious to my presence, the purple-haired girl eventually inquired about the possibility of increasing the profit share.
"Would you mind increasing the profit share? I need it to buy a low-tier fire artifact." The purple hair said.
"You can even get 20% if you can invite the guy next to you to join in as well." The elf girl nodded.
Now, the discussion had shifted its focus onto me, damn it! two pretty girls were my weakness even though I had strong discipline, but I couldn't decline if this purple-haired girl asked me to join her.
I never met such a beautiful purple-haired girl like her before as if she was a goddess, she looked even prettier than my female friend who was named Stella, she was a celebrity as well.
I had an immediate inclination to reject the invitation but after I glanced to see the purple-haired girl with her fragile almost exotic looks, I couldn't help but feel the urge to protect her like I was under her charm.
And since the appearance of the avatar was the same as real life, I was sure that this appearance must be her real appearance, she must be a natural beautiful girl in real life as well since her natural look already looked adorable with a touch of exotic to her.
And I wasn't going to pass up on this opportunity; it was time for me to embrace the role of a white knight! Maybe, there was a possibility for me to muster the courage and invite her for a real-life date.
I approached her and whispered in a low tone barely hearable "You know, these guys are sketchy, you shouldn't join their party. They might be a hidden NPC boss."
The hidden boss NPCs, despite appearing as ordinary citizens, led ordinary lives and traveled like regular NPCs and players. However, they harbored ulterior motives, such as being serial killers or affiliated with criminal organizations. Exposing them would earn rewards from the system. It's worth noting that these hidden boss NPCs were not of low-level class; instead, they frequently reached B tier and, in some cases, even S tier, making them formidable adversaries capable of rivaling town-threat dimensional creatures.
Upon hearing my words, the alluring girl directed her gaze toward me, raising her right hand to conceal her face behind the fabric of her robe, effectively shielding it from the three aliens. With a mischievous smile, she tilted her head in my direction and spoke, "I have a plan, don't worry. Just play along with me."
Drawing nearer, she firmly took hold of my arms and loudly declared, "You're coming along too, right, Einsamer?" I couldn't help but wonder how she knew my name.
She then winked at me and whispered, "Play along and trust me."
I laughed half-heartedly and replied, "Ah, yes, I'm coming along as well. I could use some coins, and perhaps I'll unlock some exclusive skills."
Of course, it was all a fabrication, and I didn't sense any ill intentions from her either. So, I decided to go along with her plan and observe if these NPCs truly were hidden bosses. Hopefully, the girl with purple eyes would devise a strategy to defeat them if these guys really turned out to be a hidden NPC boss.
As she stood close to me, I realized her height was nearly on par with mine, just slightly below my forehead. Meanwhile, the elf girl remained oblivious to our act, wearing a satisfied smile.
The elf girl chimed in, saying, "It's good to see that you two are acquainted. Let's find a suitable place where we can have an unrestricted discussion."
Next to me, the girl with purple hair nodded and gently tapped my arm, signaling for me to follow closely behind her. The three alien companions led the way towards the bustling market.
As we strolled through the park, adorned with mystical trees and people of different races from various continents and realms engaging in conversations, a sense of unity permeated the air.
Above me and everyone else, a harmless spiritual mammal resembling a fusion of whales, fish, and dolphins floated gracefully in the form of blue particles softly radiating its gentle blue glow, the ethereal creature bestowed its luminosity upon the 10th floor, ensuring a constant illumination of soothing blue light throughout the area, creating an enchanting atmosphere on the 10th floor of the tower.
Seizing the opportunity to inquire, I adopted a cold tone as we walked side by side. "How did you come to know my name?"
She replied without hesitation, "Well, I've been keeping an eye on you for a while now. But don't worry, it's not a romantic interest. I'm simply concerned for your safety."
She was refreshingly straightforward...
However, this revelation left me wondering if she had been following me all along and for how long. It made me shudder, considering that I had contemplated asking her out on a real-life date. Even without romantic intentions, the fact that she was a stalker still unsettled me a bit.
Upon arriving at our destination, we were greeted by a remarkable marketplace that exuded a sense of awe-inspiring wonder. The structure itself was a marvel, where vibrant stalls and shops adorned with mystical embellishments lined the pathways.
The air was infused with the tantalizing fragrance of exotic spices, and the melodic symphony of laughter and music filled the bustling crowds. Diverse and colorful creatures from various races roamed freely, offering their unique wares and services. Within this market, potions, spell books, and enchanted artifacts were traded, blurring the boundaries between reality and imagination with each step taken.
The architecture of the market was a sight to behold, featuring a white structure enhanced by a giant magical machine at the entrance that powered the entire marketplace. The arrangement of the structure resembled a complex web, with narrow alleyways incredibly complex through its layers.
Following the elf girl's guidance as she claimed to know one of her friend's vendors, we all followed her lead, ascending staircases, crossing bridges, and ascending to another floor.
Along the way, we passed numerous shops a bustling library, and merchants filled with various goods. I couldn't help but notice that we were nearing the edge of the floor, where vines enveloped the buildings, indicating that these shops no longer catered to ordinary players and citizens. This heightened my suspicions.
Fortunately, in the city of Eternia, PvP and murder were nonexistent.
Subsequently, we ventured into a narrow alleyway that offered a fleeting glimpse of a colossal frame, revealing an endless expanse of painted skies in various hues. Spiritual beasts gracefully glided through the celestial panorama, indicating that we were approaching the outer reaches of the tower.
However, to my growing suspicion, the elf girl instructed everyone to navigate through unfamiliar territory within the market. As we delved deeper, the visibility of other people diminished, and in contrast, more suspicious individuals, obscured by hoodies, made their presence known. Some engaged in explicit activities, prompting me to avert my gaze and concentrate on following the elf girl. Eventually, we arrived at a vendor's stall, which specialized in serving the distinctive culinary offerings of their nation.
Adjacent to the vendor's stall, a device showcased words in the Narakian language, indicating the specialty of the establishment as [Narak's local dish.]
Thought the language that looked like a worm was foreign to me, but the system automatically translated the alienate words into Anglais, a universal language for humanity.
To my surprise, the vendor's stall appeared devoid of any customers partaking in a meal. Moreover, given the nature of my avatar in the game, I couldn't actually experience any distinct taste from the food consumed. The only value it held was in providing temporary buffs and attribute enhancements, essentially tricking my brain into perceiving the flavors. However, it seemed that these NPCs were unaware of such game mechanics and likely assumed that I was a visitor from a different realm summoned into their world.
Simultaneously, the girl with vibrant purple hair appeared to be vigilantly surveying the environment. Suddenly, she accidentally let something slip from her grasp, causing it to fall to the ground. As I instinctively knelt down to retrieve the object, she delicately pushed me back and shook her head, silently conveying that she didn't want me to pick it up on her behalf.
At that moment, the elf girl turned towards us and inquired, "What are you all doing? Let's get into the shop."
"Where are we supposed to come in?" I inquired, seeking clarification.
The elf girl maintained her silence, leaving me puzzled. Observing our surroundings, I noted that apart from the vendor and its owner, there were two hefty orc men engaged in cutting a fish, while a few neatly stored fish remained preserved within an enchanted glass case. The area lacked any other individuals occupying the chairs and tables scattered nearby.
"Why have we come all this way just for a discussion?" voiced the girl with purple hair, expressing her confusion.
The elf girl calmly responded, turning towards us. "In truth, we aren't here to hunt the two iron horns on the surface. Our objective is to hunt a Sky-hidder. That's precisely why we specifically chose two individuals with gold ranks or higher, particularly humans, as Sky-hidder's favorite food is human flesh and magic."
My heart skipped a beat. Hunting a Sky-hinder required permission from Eternia's quest regulator, as these creatures were notorious for absorbing countless people and gradually digesting them alive. Even though I knew this was just a game, the sight of the Sky-hinder and the remnants of its victims had left me on the verge of poking at my own sanity and suffering from PTSD.
"The five of us against a Sky-hinder? And isn't it illegal?" I questioned in a grave tone.
The elf girl smiled and presented a round iron emblem with the symbol of infinity. This emblem indicated her affiliation with the Eternia government.
"This is a classified mission, and now that you're here, you cannot leave. You must join us, along with another 50 rankers. Naturally, we have other groups recruiting additional human rankers, as you possess greater strength and skills compared to regular citizens."
Suddenly, the elf girl whistled to one of the orc men who was cutting the fish. Without uttering a word, he nodded in acknowledgment and discreetly pulled something from beneath the table.
Subsequently, a section of the wall behind him slowly opened, revealing a dimly lit passage illuminated by small red lamps aligned on either side of the passage.
"But I don't come here to kill the Sky-hinder. It is a B-tier dimensional creature," I stated, emphasizing the gravity of their request.
Unexpectedly, as I firmly expressed my refusal, an enormous brick emerged from the ground behind me, effectively sealing off the exit of the alleyway. It was a stark realization that my decision to come here into this place had been a grave mistake, and now I had inadvertently dragged the innocent purple-haired girl into this dangerous situation too because I was trying to be a white knight!
I would never be a beta simp again.
I couldn't help but wonder about their intentions toward me, considering that player versus player (PVP) combat was prohibited within the city of Eternia.
Could it be possible that they intended to exploit the purple-haired girl and subject her avatar to a slave contract against her will?
But then, what purpose did they have in involving me?
The many questions swirling in my mind only added to my frustration and confusion.