Keitaro's heartbeat quickened as the scarred man locked his eyes with him. The tavern, which had been warm and inviting a few moments ago was now suddenly fill with tention. The air was thick with tension and every eye in the room shifted between Keitaro and the group of strangers at the door. He wasn't exactly sure what they wanted but judging by the hardened look in their eyes and the weapons hanging at their sides it wasn't to offer him a welcoming free staying package.
The scarred man stepped forward his boots thudding heavily against the wooden floor. His two companions both equally imposing followed him like loyal dogs on a hunt.
"Well now," the scarred man said his voice dripping with menace. "You look like someone who doesn't belong here, kid."
Keitaro gulped and forced a nervous smile trying his best to play it cool despite the fact that his heart was racing. "Uh, yeah I'm just passing through didn't mean to cause any trouble."
"Trouble?" The man laughed, though there was no humor in it. "No, you're not trouble not yet anyway. But you're going to answer some questions for me. Right here right now."
Keitaro glanced around the room. The tavern patrons were watching with wide eyes some of them whispering to each other but none seemed willing to step in. Even Garret the bartender, had taken a step back eyeing the situation warily. It was clear that these newcomers weren't ordinary villagers they had an air of authority or at least enough brute strength to back up whatever they wanted.
Keitaro considered his options. He had leveled up sure but he wasn't confident that a few anime based powers would help him win a fight against three armed men especially if they were experienced fighters. Running seemed like a bad idea too he didn't know the layout of the village and they'd catch up to him in no time.
What do they even want with me? he wondered.
The system ever the silent observer finally chimed in.
New Quest: Deal with the Interrogators
Objective: Deal with the situation peacefully or prepare for combat.
Rewards: 250 XP, Skill Unlock (Negotiation or Combat Mastery).
Penalty: Potential injury or capture.
Keitaro stared at the quest window. "Deal with the situation peacefully? Easy for you to say you danmn system," he muttered under his breath.
The scarred man stopped a few feet away from Keitaro crossing his arms over his broad chest. His companions one a burly man with a shaved head and the other a tall woman with sharp eyes stood behind him like silent enforcers.
"Name's Rafe," the scarred man said, introducing himself with a tone that implied he didn't care whether Keitaro knew his name or not. "I'm the one who asks the questions around here. And you what's your name, outsider?"
Keitaro swallowed hard feeling the weight of every gaze in the tavern on him. "I'm Keitaro," he said trying to keep his voice steady.
"Keitaro huh? Never heard a name like that," Rafe said his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "You're not from around here are you?"
Keitaro shook his head. "Nope. I'm… uh, from far away very far away."
Rafe raised an eyebrow clearly not impressed with Keitaro's vague answer. "Far away, you say? and you just happened to wander into Darkwood forest one of the most dangerous places in this region without getting torn to pieces by the creatures in there?"
Keitaro's mind raced. He needed a believable explanation something that wouldn't make him sound like an idiot or a threat. "Yeah, it wasn't exactly my plan I got lost on my way and ended up in the forest by accident and barely made it out. Trust me, I don't want to go back in there."
Rafe stared at him for a long moment his eyes cold and calculating. The silence stretched on and Keitaro could feel the tension in the room thickening. His hand twitched slightly tempted to activate Shunpo at the first sign of trouble but he knew that making a sudden move would only escalate things.
"Lost huh?" Rafe finally said his tone skeptical. "You expect me to believe that some random kid just wandered into one of the most dangerous places in this land and made it out alive? Without so much as a scratch?"
Keitaro tensed up oh crap he's not buying it.
The system's voice echoed in his head offering him the option to unlock his new skill: Negotiation.
"Host, would you like to unlock Negotiation (Level 1) to assist with peaceful resolution?"
Keitaro didn't hesitate. "Yes, system. Let's do it."
A sudden wave of calm washed over him as the skill activated. It wasn't mind control or some magical charm but he felt more confident more in control of the conversation. He knew that if he played this right he might just be able to talk his way out of this mess.
Keitaro smiled trying to look as non-threatening as possible. "Look, Rafe, I get it you're suspicious of me and I don't blame you but trust me, I'm not here to cause any trouble. I just want to find a place to rest, maybe figure out where I am, and move on. I'm not looking to get involved in anything dangerous."
Rafe's eyes flicked to his companions, as if weighing Keitaro's words. The tall woman narrowed her eyes, but the burly man seemed uninterested his arms crossed lazily.
"Is that so?" Rafe said his tone still guarded. "Then tell me Keitaro if you're just some lost traveler why does it feel like you're hiding something?"
Keitaro's heart skipped a beat. He needed to stay calm not let Rafe see the nervousness creeping up inside him.
"Look," Keitaro said trying to sound as genuine as possible "I'm not hiding anything. I'm just trying to survive. You saw me I'm soaking wet because I had to jump into the river to get away from some huge monster in the forest. If I was some kind of threat, don't you think I'd be better prepared?"
Rafe remained silent for a moment his eyes boring into Keitaro's as if trying to read his soul. The tension in the room was suffocating.
Finally the scarred man let out a short humorless laugh. "Maybe you're telling the truth or maybe you're just a really good liar."
Keitaro's stomach tightened but he held his ground. He knew this was a gamble but he had to see it through.
Rafe sighed and stepped back slightly though his expression remained hard. "Alright kid I'll give you the benefit of the doubt for now. But if I find out you're hiding something or if you turn out to be trouble for this village I won't hesitate to deal with you Understand?"
Keitaro nodded quickly. "Yeah understood no trouble from me."
Rafe gave a nod then turned to his companions. "Let's go we've wasted enough time here."
Without another word the three of them left the tavern their heavy boots echoing against the floor as the door swung shut behind them.
Keitaro let out a long breath his body sagging with relief. "That was way too close."
Garret the bartender walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You alright, kid?"
"Yeah," Keitaro said wiping the sweat from his brow. "I think so. Who were those guys?"
Garret glanced at the door where Rafe and his group had left. "Rafe's part of the local militia, but he's got a bit more authority than the others. Keeps an eye on anyone new coming into the village. We've had some issues with outsiders before."
Keitaro frowned. "What kind of issues?"
"Bandits, mercenaries, travelers causing trouble," Garret explained. "Usualy Rafe's job is to make sure no one here gets caught up in anything dangerous."
Keitaro nodded though a part of him wondered if Rafe's "authority" was just a way of bullying people around either way he was glad the situation hadn't escalated.
"Thanks for not selling me out," Keitaro said with a sheepish grin.
Garret chuckled. "Don't mention it. You seem like a good kid. Besides I can usually tell when someone's trouble, and you well you're a bit of a mess but I don't think you're dangerous."
Keitaro laughed grateful for Garret's good nature. "Thanks I think."
Garret gave him a pat on the shoulder before returning to his duties behind the bar. "Get some rest kid. You're gonna need it if you're staying around here for a while. Darkwood might be behind you but there are other dangers out there."
Keitaro's mind lingered on that last sentence. Other dangers? If the forest and the giant predator weren't the worst this world had to offer what else was out there?
His thoughts were interrupted by the system's voice.
Quest Complete: Deal with the Interrogators
Rewards: 250 XP, Skill Unlock: Negotiation (Level 1)
Congratulations! You have leveled up to Level 3.
Keitaro felt a slight surge of energy as he leveled up again. He quickly opened his status screen to check the changes.
Name: Keitaro Yamada
Level: 3
Health: 180/180
Mana: 90/120
Strength: 13
Dexterity: 15
Intelligence: 12
Endurance: 13
Skills:
Negotiation (Level 1)
Shunpo
Shadow Clone Jutsu
Spirit Gun
Endurance Boost
"Level 3 already?" Keitaro muttered. "Not bad for just surviving a conversation."
He closed the menu feeling a bit more confident about his growing strength still something about Rafe's interrogation didn't sit right with him. Why had they have been looking for him specifically? How did they know about him? Was it just a coincidence or was there something else going on?
His instincts told him that this wasn't over. He was an outsider in a world he barely understood and it was only a matter of time before he attracted more unwanted attention.
For now though he was safe. The fire crackled in the hearth, the warmth and scent of the tavern's food easing the tension in his body. He finished the last bite of his meal and leaned back in his chair letting the events of the day sink in.
He had survived his first major encounter, leveled up and avoided a fight. But if this was just the beginning what would come next?
Keitaro stared into the fire the flickering flames casting shadows on the walls.
He had to get stronger. He had to learn more about this world, its dangers and the people who inhabited it. If he was going to survive he needed more than just anime powers and luck.
He needed to master the system.
With that thought Keitaro stood up paid Garret for the meal with the money he had gotten through luck in darkwood forest and headed toward the door. He stepped outside the cool evening air hitting his face as the sun dipped below the horizon.
Whatever lay ahead he was ready to face it.
"Time to level up both in skills and knowledge."
Keitaro walked into the twilight his next adventure awaited.