"I regret to inform you that our assessment has shown that your mother is in a critical condition," the doctor's words hit me and my sister with the force of a thunderbolt, leaving us numb and lifeless.
It felt like just a few seconds ago I had seen my mother, grateful that I had awoken from a long rest after my accident.
My plan to use the money I earned from the grueling experience at Zeta's palace, known as the Monster Diamond, was suddenly crushed when I saw my mother lying in bed, unconscious.
"Your mother's symptoms, including extreme fatigue, prolonged fever, and labored breathing, may be indicative of a serious underlying issue.
However, our medical assessment has not yet identified the root cause of her loss of consciousness.
At this point, all we can do is provide medical support for her daily care, but we are unable to resolve the main issue. I apologize," the doctor explained while reading from my mother's medical records.
My sister, Arlene, began to cry, burying her face in my shoulder.
I could feel her panic and sadness as she looked at our mother, the backbone of our family, unconscious.
Ever since our father was declared Missing in Action by the Knight Association, our mother had been working multiple jobs just to put food on the table.
I also did my part by becoming a Knight, sacrificing my dream of a proper education for quick cash, but it was never enough to solve our financial problems.
I knew that when I was forced to become a Magician, it was a do or die decision, but I also saw it as an opportunity to earn a significant amount of money through the Monster Diamonds.
I had hoped to show my mother the fruits of my labor, so she could finally rest and leave behind the exhausting and toxic work environment she had to endure.
But now, those hopes were fading, just like my shattered dream of attending college.
"Who is the patient's family? Are you the one?" the doctor inquired, catching me off guard.
"That's correct."
"Well, in terms of the medical bill for your mother, I believe you are of sufficient maturity. While there is government insurance available for your mother, due to the uncertainty of her condition, it may not cover all of her expenses. As the person responsible for her, the remainder will fall on you," the doctor explained.
"Can you tell me how much I will need to pay, doctor?" I asked bluntly. "Let me see... the government insurance may cover the first two weeks of your mother's medical expenses, but after that, you will need to cover approximately $8000 per week."
"Wow, that $8000 almost covered two months' worth of expenses for our family," I exclaimed, my mind racing through countless possibilities to gather that amount of money.
I couldn't help but appear lost and distraught, my face contorted in confusion, drawing curious glances from those around me.
Suddenly, Arlene leaned in and whispered, "Brother, I can help you find work. I don't have to continue school."
"No, Arlene. Focus on your studies. I'll handle this," I replied hastily, not wanting her to follow in my footsteps.
But then, the doctor offered me another option in a hushed tone, "If you're worried about the medical expenses, I have some suggestions. Your mother's condition is complex and uncertain, and her treatment will be lengthy and expensive. I've seen many families of patients go through immense stress and depression due to the uncertainty of their loved one's recovery."
"What are you trying to say, doctor?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"Based on your mother's medical history, I can see that her body has been overworked and malnourished for a long time. Her current coma could be a result of this exhaustion, forcing her to rest completely," the doctor explained, speaking in broad terms and not yet revealing his true intentions.
"Please just tell me straight, doctor. What other option are you suggesting?" I asked impatiently.
"If you wish to spare you and your sister from the looming burden of exorbitant medical expenses and the endless suffering of your mother, I can arrange for her to undergo euthanasia."
Upon hearing the doctor's subtle death sentence, my immediate reaction was one of anger.
I grabbed onto the doctor's white coat and prepared to strike him in the face.
However, before I could act, Arlene noticed my rage and intervened, trying to restrain me.
"What the hell are you thinking, you moron?! Do you think I have no money to keep my mother alive?! I am not so destitute as to let my mother die at your hands, you asshole!"
I shouted, causing security to come and separate me from the doctor.
The doctor's face turned pale as he saw the sudden spark of lightning emanating from my soul.
He cowered behind the security, clearly intimidated.
"Brother, enough! We both know we would never consider such a foolish option!" Arlene scolded me, trying to pull me away from the doctor.
I gradually regained control of my breath as the doctor disappeared from my sight.
If I had been in his presence any longer, I may have cast a bolt of lightning through his body for showing such disrespect towards my mother.
"Brother...I know this is difficult, but the doctor is right about the medical expenses. I'm afraid we won't be able to afford them all," Arlene reluctantly voiced her concern.
"There must be a way. We have to find a way," I repeated, trying to remain calm as I sat down with Arlene.
We needed to control our emotions after the commotion that had just occurred.
If I made a rough calculation, taking into account the government insurance, my savings, and my current Monster Diamond, I could cover the medical expenses for my mother for one month, including our living expenses.
In other words, I only had one month to prepare myself for the next month's expenses for my family.
My current job as a Weakest Knight would not be enough to cover it all.
Even if Arlene were to take on a job to help with our finances, it would not be sufficient, and it would also take away from her education.
Feeling the weight of the pressure on my shoulders, I instinctively glanced at the notification from the System, realizing that there was a new quest.
It took me a moment to comprehend the Task requirement.
From what I recall, the Arcton Fort is a monstrous stronghold where the elite Knights Association is strategizing to invade, as it houses the fearsome Boss Monster:
Headless Knight. After years of the Monster's invasion on Earth, the Knights Association has devised advanced weapons and armor, equipped with the ability to break through the mystical barrier and proactively attack the monsters, instead of passively waiting for an attack.
As the Monster World exists in a different realm, a one to three day invasion there is equivalent to a month on Earth.
If I were to participate in the Arcton Fort Invasion as a Knight, I could gather enough Monster Diamonds to cover my mother's medical expenses for the next month and also provide for my sister's living expenses.
This seems like the perfect opportunity to solve my financial struggles.
I hope that the System Quest will reward me with an abundance of Monster Diamonds.
I truly do.
As I shift my focus, I immediately check my outdated phone, searching for any offers from the Knight Association for the Arcton Fort Invasion.
Oh, no!
Only Knights with a B Rank or higher can participate?!
Even though I am now a Magician, my Knight rank is only F.
I anxiously scan through the other requirements, desperately looking for a chance to join the invasion.
My search comes to a halt when I discover that Knights below the B Rank can participate as couriers, responsible for transporting items and collecting Monster Diamonds from the participating Knights who choose them.
Well, it's better than nothing.
As long as I can be a part of the Arcton Fort Invasion, that's all that matters.
Without hesitation, I register as a courier, while my sister Arlene watches me with a curious expression.
"Brother, is there anything I can do to help?" she asks, a tinge of concern in her voice.
"Just pray that we can make it through all of this, Arlene," I reply calmly, gently patting her head.
My life as a Magician may have brought a new threat of death, but I have faith that as long as I can progress with the System, I can pull my family out of this complicated situation.
***
"What in the world?! How could I, with my lowly rank as a Knight, be chosen as the carrier for this crucial Invasion?!" The female Knight, clad in a shining and prestigious suit of armor, bellowed at me in front of a sea of fellow Knights.
Stella, an esteemed S Rank Knight and the soon-to-be vice leader of the team for the invasion, glared at me with utter disdain.
Among the Knights, she was renowned for her strength, status, and physical beauty.
However, her arrogance was too much for some of her fellow Knights to bear, including myself.
"Why are you staying silent, you imbecile?! Don't you have anything to say or explain?! I refuse to let this invasion be hindered by useless and opportunistic individuals like yourself!" Stella continued to mock me, her words dripping with contempt.
Despite her haughtiness, I knew I had to remain patient in order to not get kicked out of this mission.
I needed to gain access to the magical gate so I could reach Arcton Fort and focus on my Quest in the system, whatever it took for the sake of my family.
"I promise to fulfill my duty as the carrier and not make your mission any more difficult," I said, trying to keep my tone as flat as possible, even as Stella continued to sneer at me.
"Listen here, weakling! Just do as I say and focus on mining the Monster Diamond. If I catch you slacking or taking my belongings and the Monster Diamond, I'll throw you to the Monsters lurking in Arcton Fort!" Stella shouted once again, pointing her finger menacingly in my direction. "And if I find out that you've ended up as a corpse after this invasion, I refuse to take responsibility for it! Do you understand, weakling?!" she continued aggressively.
I paused for a moment as I noticed some of the Knights behind Stella whispering to her and preparing some recording tools.
It seemed that Stella's team didn't want to be held accountable in case I died or got seriously injured during the invasion, so they needed to record my statement about it.
"I, Alstair, am well aware of the risks and responsibilities that come with being a Knight, and I will not blame anyone if I suffer a critical incident that leads to severe injury or even death," I stated firmly.
The Knights behind Stella nodded at her, confirming that they had recorded my words clearly.
Stella released a heavy breath, a mixture of relief and anger, before turning her disgusted gaze back towards me, as was her usual habit.
If she could read my thoughts, she would understand that I too found her statement foolish and full of deceit.
I have no intention of meeting a miserable end and returning to my family as a mere corpse, like she had claimed.
"Whoa, is everything alright? Why all the commotion?" The gentle voice of a grown man, clad in shining armor and a magical cape, suddenly approached.
It was William, another S-Rank Knight who would lead our invasion on Arcton Fort.
Like Stella, he was known for his handsome appearance and muscular physique, and was just a step above her in terms of elite status.
Not only common folk, but even the proud and conceited Stella had a crush on William, due to his reputation as a reliable and successful knight in monster invasions.
However, when it came to arrogance, William was no different from Stella. "William... I think we need to reevaluate our knight assignment system for this mission. Why on earth was I given this lowly knight as my companion?! I can't even replace him with a more competent one. It's infuriating!" Stella protested.
William nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on me.
"Ahahahah.... well, I hate to say it, but we don't have time for that now. We must depart for our mission, dear Stella," William replied, "And if I recall correctly, you're Alstair, the F-rank Knight. Yes, I know you. The one who almost died in a car accident. Quite amusing, and foolish of course, to see a knight nearly meet their end in such a manner," he continued, mocking me.
"Is that so? Almost dying in a car accident? That's the most ridiculous story I've ever heard for a knight! I may have some respect for those who perish in battle, but this pitiful excuse for a knight is on a whole different level!" Stella jeered at me, joined by the laughter of the A, B, and C rank knights behind her.
This type of ridicule is not a harmless joke, and I am well aware of that.
However, responding to it would only waste my valuable time and energy.
My only concern is reaching Arcton Fort and focusing on my Quest.
As William clapped his hands, signaling for the Knights to gather, he announced, "Enough talk, let's get going!"
With that, he led the group towards the flying Magical Gate, which had been created by the Knights Researcher.
During the early stages of the war between humans and monsters, the sudden appearance of Magical Gates in every country caused chaos.
But after years of survival, humans were able to gather Monster Diamonds, a powerful material to create any weapon and device against the monsters.
The Knights Researcher took it a step further and developed the Magical Gate, allowing Knights to make a preemptive strike against the monsters.
However, the Magical Gate could only lead to the last known location of a Knight who had been on a mission for a certain amount of time.
Arcton Fort was one such location, previously covered by elite Knights.
This mission was the final phase in defeating the Headless Knight, the boss of Arcton Fort.
"Excellent! The camera is rolling!" Stella exclaimed, quickly checking her appearance to ensure she was camera-ready.
Four B-Rank Knights activated their specialized recording devices, capturing Stella from multiple viewpoints.
In light of the ongoing war, the Knight Association had authorized live recording of Knight's actions during Monster Invasions, providing public reassurance of their diligent protection of the world.
As a result, renowned S-Rank Knights like Stella surpassed even global celebrities in terms of fame and recognition, as their heroic acts were broadcasted across various media platforms.
Stella, an accomplished S-Rank Knight, had gained widespread recognition and became a sought-after model for a prestigious brand.
Her unfiltered, live recordings of her battles, showcasing her injuries and struggles, allowed her to connect with her audience and reveal the harsh realities of being a Knight.
"Greetings, everyone! Stella, the esteemed S-Rank Knight, is on duty! My team and I are on mission to Arcton Fort, where we will vanquish the formidable Headless Knight Monster!"
Stella passionately monologued as the live camera captured her every move.
I couldn't care less about her and I had no desire to learn more, so I quickly stepped back to grab Stella's equipment for our mission in Invasion.
But suddenly, someone pulled me from behind.
It was Stella.
"Oh, did you know that even low-ranked Knights can help and support on our missions? Let me introduce you to Alstair, a F-Rank Knight," she said, with a false smile plastered on her face.
She even forced me to awkwardly wave at the camera. I knew I would look ridiculous in this live recording.
"We know it's a dangerous mission, but rest assured, no matter their rank, Knights will always strive to defeat those evil monsters and make the world a safer place, right Alstair?" Stella looked at me with a painfully fake smile.
All I could do was nod. I prayed for her to just leave me alone, it was getting annoying.
As I was lost in my thoughts, I suddenly noticed a mischievous smirk on Stella's face.
I could sense her evil plan just by that one expression.
"Oh, Alstair! We're supposed to be heading to Arcton Fort! Our leader, William, is calling! Help me carry my Knight's Gear bag, hurry!" she pointed to the huge bag on my left.
It may have looked like a regular military bag, but it was significantly heavier. This type of bag was specially designed to hold Knight's Gear, and it could carry almost fifty times the weight of a regular military bag.
Usually, only A or S-Rank Knights would need to carry such a bag, depending on their mission.
As a carrier, I was not obligated to carry it. "If I'm not mistaken, the Knight's Gear bag should be carried by its owner," I stated flatly.
Stella burst into laughter, almost hysterically.
It felt like she and her subordinates were laughing at me.
"Ahahaha! Yes, yes! We almost forgot you're the lowest-ranked Knight, the F-Rank one! But why are you refusing? Don't you want to try it out?" she pulled me towards the bag, with her subordinate recording us live. I knew it was just a silly stunt for her fans.
"Come on, Alstair, try it! If you have any trouble, I'll help you," Stella insisted with her fake smile, well aware that the camera was focused on us.
I knew her offer to help was just for show, to please her fans during the live recording.
"Ah, crap."
Hopefully this nonsense will be over by the time I reach Arcton Fort.
Hideously, I summon the power of Gaia Endowment, feeling its surge elevate my physical strength.
As I effortlessly lift the Knight Carry Bag, everyone's reaction, including Stella's, is one of shock.
Stella in particular seems to be at a loss for words as she watches me handle the bag with ease.
"What the hell?! How is an F-Rank Knight able to carry that bag?!"
"Isn't that something only an A-rank Knight could handle?!"
I could hear the whispers of confusion from the other Knights.
I pay them no mind, but Stella's intense gaze draws my attention.
She signals to her subordinate to stop recording immediately.
The moment I see her annoyed expression, a stark contrast to her usual fake smile during recordings,
I know the camera is off.
"Give me back my Knight Carry Bag now!", Stella insists, her face twisted in disgust as she forcefully takes her bag back and pushes me down in the process.
With a confused look, Stella examines me as if trying to figure out some kind of trick.
"How is this possible?! Only S-Rank and A-Rank Knights are supposed to be able to carry these things! What kind of trick did you use, you pathetic Weakest Knight?!" Stella scolds me, her anger mixing with confusion.
"I simply did as you asked, as your Carrier," I reply flatly, attempting to get back on my feet.
But Stella suddenly stomps on my hand, keeping me kneeling in front of her. "You've ruined my content! Don't think I'll forget this!" Stella strengthens her stomp, causing my hand to gradually feel pain even though it's protected by Magical Barrier and Gaia Endowment.
If I don't activate those protective spells, my hand will surely be crushed.
"Stay away from me, Strange Weakest Knight!" Stella bellowed with venom in her voice, gesturing for me to bring the remaining bags.
"If I find even a small trace of our equipment left behind, I'll make sure you suffer even more!"
With a swift kick to my face, she and her subordinate moved away.
The force of her kick left a trail of bruises on my face, but I grit my teeth and bear the pain.
Without dwelling on it, I gather the remaining bags and make my way towards the Magical Gate.
From a distance, I can see Stella's subordinate turning on their cameras once again.
"Apologies for the interruption," Stella's voice echoed through the area.
"We encountered a minor technical issue. As you can see, our low-ranking Knight here couldn't handle the weight of my carry bag and fell. But don't worry, I was able to save him. It's a small feat for someone like me, an S-Rank Knight."
Her fake smile plastered on her face as she spoke in an overly excited tone.
'This woman is a master manipulator,' I seethed inwardly.
Before my anger could consume me, I focused on my goal - to enter the Magical Gate and face the challenges of Arcton Fort.