MISSION: BABYSIT THE CLIENT'S SON FOR TWO HOURS
"What in the actual fuck…?" I mutter under my breath as I stare at the mission details flashing in front of my eyes.
I mean, seriously, I've been in worse situations, but this… this is a nightmare in its own right. Babysitting a five-year-old? Five! That's the age when they're like little monsters with endless energy and zero concept of "I'm exhausted."
I glance down at the boy standing next to me. He looks up at me with wide, innocent eyes, a mischievous grin already forming on his face. For your information, these NPCs are disturbingly human-like. His warm little hand is clutching mine, and I can feel his grip. I can even smell the faint scent of sugar on his breath. It's unnerving how real this world feels.
We're standing in an amusement park, and let me tell you, it's one of the most colorful places I've ever seen. Flashing lights, loud music, kids running around screaming with joy—or terror, hard to tell. The air smells of popcorn and cotton candy. Everywhere I look, there are families having fun.
To be honest, am a little bit excited and nervous. I have never been to an amusement park, I mean, back then I only went to one when I had graduated and had also to baby sit but she was a she and a twelve-year-old. Basically, we grew tired and left the amusement park. So this is what I never experienced when growing up. I only heard stories or saw an amusement park on TV.
Mmmm!!!
Again today this is just a quest. I can't call it real but it feels too real yet.
Two hours of chasing after this kid. Great.
Just as I'm getting my bearings, a notification pops up in my vision, making me groan.
Task 1: Ride the Carousel three times.
Of course. The spinning ride that's going to leave me with a stomachache before we're even five minutes into this. I glance at the boy, who's practically bouncing on his toes in excitement.
"Come on! Let's go!" he shouts, tugging my hand and dashing off towards the carousel.
I follow reluctantly, dragging my feet. The carousel is this massive, colorful spinning monstrosity with horses of all shapes and sizes. The music blares from its speakers—one of those overly cheerful tunes that'll stick in your head for hours. We get in line, and before I know it, the kid is already climbing onto a flaming red horse with a grin plastered across his face.
I stand next to him, gripping the bar as the ride starts moving. Slowly at first, but then it picks up speed. Round and round we go, the world blurring around me. The boy is laughing hysterically, while I'm just trying to keep my breakfast where it belongs. The spinning, the music, the flashing lights—it's all too much.
And too fucking real!!
Finally, the ride comes to a stop. I take a deep breath, thinking it's over, but then the kid looks at me with wide eyes.
"Again! Let's go again!"
I groan but check the task list—yup, three times. I sigh in defeat as we ride it two more times. By the third ride, I feel like my insides have turned into a washing machine, but the boy is still as energetic as ever.
As the ride comes to a stop for the last time, I stagger off, trying to regain my balance. The boy, on the other hand, bounces off the horse, ready for more. I check my watch. Only twenty minutes have passed. Fantastic.
Another notification appears in front of me.
Task 2: Ride the Bumper Cars.
The hellll!!!
"Let's go!" the boy cheers, running toward the bumper cars like he's on a sugar high. I reluctantly follow, my stomach still spinning from the carousel.
The bumper car section is full of flashing lights and a mix of laughter and screams from other kids. We climb into a blue car, and I grip the steering wheel, bracing myself for the chaos. The second the buzzer sounds, the kid slams the pedal, and we lurch forward, crashing straight into another car.
"Aaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!"
"Prrrrrrmmmmmm!!!!!"
He's laughing like a maniac, steering wildly as we bash into every car in sight. I get jolted around, my neck snapping back and forth with every hit.
"Yeah! Smash them! Prrrrrmmmmmm!!!" he shouts, swerving and ramming into a group of kids who are too slow to avoid us. I swear he's having way too much fun with this.
We spend what feels like forever getting tossed around before the buzzer finally sounds, signaling the end of the ride. I stumble out, rubbing my neck, while the boy is already running toward the next ride.
Grabbing my hand!
But stops when he sees the green, yellow afro man, wearing a joker costume pushing his ice-cream truck.
He looks up at me, the points at it before a message appears.
Task 3: Get Ice Cream.
This one doesn't sound so bad. We make our way over to a vendor, and I hand him an ice cream cone. Of course, within seconds, the boy manages to get it all over his face and hands, sticky mess everywhere. I hand him some napkins, but he's already too busy digging into the cone to care about cleanliness.
"More rides!" he demands, his mouth still full of ice cream. I sigh, checking the mission log again, and sure enough, there's another task waiting.
Task 4: Ride the Viking Ship.
I glance up at the massive, swinging Viking ship.
Oh, hell no!!
This is one of those rides where it swings so high it feels like you're going to fly out. But before I can object, the boy grabs my hand and pulls me toward the line. There's no escaping this.
We get strapped in, and the ship starts to swing. At first, it's not so bad, but then it goes higher. And higher. My stomach drops with each swing, and I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. The boy, on the other hand, is screaming with laughter, his arms raised in the air like he's on top of the world.
When the ride finally stops, I stumble off, feeling like I'm going to hurl. The boy, of course, is fine. He's already racing off to the next task.
Like I said, a little Monster.
Task 5: Visit the Animal Zoo.
Finally, something that doesn't involve spinning or crashing. I follow him to the zoo section, where kids are gathered around looking at different animals. Lions, zebras, and some other exotic creatures. The boy presses his face against the glass, pointing at the lions with wide eyes.
"They're so cool!" he exclaims, his voice full of excitement.
For a moment, I get to relax. The zoo is calm, peaceful, and the boy is mesmerized by the animals. I stand there, catching my breath, letting the cool breeze wash over me. The animals seem content, lounging around or pacing lazily in their enclosures.
But then, of course, the boy turns to me with that mischievous grin again. "Can we ride an elephant?"
I groan. "Maybe later, kid."
Just when I think it's over, the final notification pops up in front of me.
Task Complete. Reward: 500 E.P.
Thank god. I sink onto a nearby bench, finally able to sit down without getting pulled to another ride. But just as I'm about to close my eyes, another message appears.
[Skill Unlocked: Intense Tolerance.]
[Cooldown Skill Unlocked.]
A deep sigh as I watch the kid being taken away by his parents. The sun is going down as he waves back at me.