'Any questions?'

Daiki, like before, was the first to seize the opportunity to ask a question. He stepped forward with a determined expression, his posture confident while his tone unwavering, hiding the uncertainty which stemmed from the humiliation he had faced at the mercy of the collectors.

He asked, 'If the goal was to make us struggle to survive or whatever, what's up with all the cheats?'

Helda tilted her head and spread her palms, asking in confusion, 'What's a cheat?'

Daiki was dumbfounded, unsure of whether to laugh or cry in this situation as he tried to think of an explanation.

You know when you know exactly what something is, your mind goes completely blank when asked what it is, reducing you to a state of self-doubt where you forget even the simplest of meanings. That was the predicament that befell Daiki at that moment.

He was still coming up with the words for it when Helda exclaimed, 'Ah, wait! Don't tell me! I know how to find out. It's a feature I've always wanted to try out', she said giddily.

She quickly brought up her screen and opened Google!

(Daiki: =_=)

She searched up the meaning and said, offended, 'Who acted dishonestly?!'

Alice slapped her palm on her forehead , 'That's...not what he meant', she sighed.

Alice was a bit reluctant for some reason to act like the way she usually did with this beast. Like how a naughty child may become obedient in front of the Principal.

'Since he stepped forward first, he will be the one to speak. You insolent woman!' Helda retorted sternly,

Then she softened her expression and asked Daiki gently, 'Was that not it dear?'

Daiki, flabbergasted, replied, 'Uh, no. Well, I don't think you'll get it like that no matter what I ask you to search so let me rephrase my question. I meant why has it been so easy for us to get stronger?'

Helda slapped her thigh, 'Ah! That's what you meant! Right, right. Well, let me clear one thing up first, dear.'

She explained, 'The goal was not struggling for survival, it was for you to get stronger and awaken your abilities as soon as possible. Hence, to ensure your survival you were sent here first, for what they call a tutorial. So that you are at least strong enough to survive outside and achieve the goal.'

This information was news to everyone. They truly didn't think of it that way. But they had one thought in mind, 'Why?'

Though they didn't voice it just yet as Daiki asked, 'Why here? What's so special about this place? Is it the monsters?'

Helda seemed offended at the last question as she asked with a hurt expression, 'Monsters?! What monsters? There are no monsters here!'

Daiki, startled at the sudden change, quickly explained, 'What we were fighting...the dangerous beasts that attacked us, and who we got rewarded with stats for killing.'

Helda asked, horrified, 'You all killed them?! They were simply the residents of this forest! And you were even rewarded?! How? Why?! We were promised protection in exchange for surrender by those higher beings, so how could they insight young, naive players to kill innocents!'

She was furious, her chest rising and falling as she took deep breaths to calm herself from her shock and rage. There was pure hatred in her eyes, but she suppressed it and continued.

'No, you said they attacked you...they must've been controlled to do so. They were all peaceful folk who would never harm another and yet...hah. It seems we've been had', she said as her head drooped down, 'Who have you killed, Zhiren?'

Zhiren was startled upon hearing her name, even more so as she looked at the pained expression of the creature before her, giving rise to a surge of guilt.

Her throat felt constricted, like there was something stuck, forcing out the answer while looking down, 'A...a pack of wolves in the forests, centipedes in a cave, a sphinx, a minotaur at the end of a maze, and some rabbits who sacrificed themselves so we could survive the minotaur.'

Helda sighed, 'So, all the guardians, huh? You probably don't even know about them. Our goddess had appointed them as such to protect out forest because it was highly sought after due to its nature, which would also be the answer to the young man's question.'

She looked up and closed her eyes, 'Time in our forest is much different from the outside world. It's much slower. However, when someone from the outside comes here, there physical body keeps to its original time. You simply do not perceive it, however it happens and quite naturally.'

She looked at the group and asked, 'Do you trust each other? Do you consider to be close to each other? Do you feel attached, like dear old friends?'

They all hesitantly nodded.

She continued, 'And how long have you known each other?'

Zhiren replied, 'A day.'

Helda gave them a pitying look, 'No, dear, you've actually known each other a lot longer. You just didn't have any awareness of it. But your mind, body and soul did. If you manage to perceive and make use of it, you could even apply it to the real world and learn what would take centuries in a comparatively short amount of time. That's what makes this place so special and valuable.'

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

As they processed this new information, a frightening question came to mind.

Jason asked, 'I apologize for speaking out of turn but how long have we actually been here?'

Helda said worriedly, 'Well, you see...think of it like this. 1 second here would be the same as 1 hour outside, since a minute has sixty seconds, would mean that it would be the same as 60 hours outside. While an hour here, which has 60 minutes would be 3600 hours outside. This would mean a day, having 24 hours here, would have...'

Jason interrupted, horrified, '86,400 hours.'

Helda replied sympathetically, 'Yes, that means while you've spent a day in here, 3600 day have passed outside. In other words, you've actually been here for almost 10 years'.

They all turned pale upon hearing this. Especially Jason, who had a place, a person, he needed to return to. His lips quivered as he held back tears at the thought of his mother, all alone, thinking her only remaining family had died years ago.

Helda shook her head sorrowfully at their reactions, her emotions clearly visible on her face, 'I know, it must've come as a shock to you. But that's the reason why you've been getting strong so fast.'

Her explanation, brought them back to the situation at hand. They knew, there wasn't any time for breaking down now. So much time has already been wasted, they need to hurry and for that they need to know what's next.

Helda explained, 'Imagine you swing your sword once per second while in reality, you've been doing it for an hour. While you can't feel it, you've actually been swinging your sword continuously for that hour. Without any fatigue however the experience and improvement counts. Say, you fight someone while only slashing for a minute, in reality you've been doing it for 60 hours. Anyone would be able to become unbelievably skilled and strong in that situation, don't you think. That's why you were first brought here.'

Daiki took a deep breath, 'This is a lot to take in, but all things considered it suddenly does makes sense.'

He was wondering, how was it that he'd changed so much and become so close to these people in just a day. But considering its actually been a decade...it made sense.

Alice raised her hand, cautious due to the previous reprimand.

Helda nodded.

Alice asked, 'Then why do we look the same?'

Helda replied with a smirk, 'It wouldn't be all that special if a person dies of old age in a few days, right? While your body does change with the experience, you don't age more than the time you spent here. So, you've only aged a day, while having experience of a decade. It's a bit complicated, yes. But this is the amazing system created by our goddess with her companions. Also why this place was so coveted.'

Alice made an understanding expression and nodded.

Seo-Jun thought, 'How is this any different from an ultimate cheat or something?!' But didn't let out a squeak due to still being terrified.

Zhiren asked, 'Where is this goddess then? Why are you being controlled? And the Minotaur...the guardian, before his death shed a tear, do you know why? I'm asking because its been bothering me for a while. And, if you're being controlled, why did the rabbits save us?'

Helda replied with a distant look, 'Its a tale wrought with tragedies, which I can't tell you. What I can let you know is that a Great War took place where out goddess sacrificed herself for the forest, to preserve our lives and in her absence, those beings took over, guaranteeing our safety in return for compliance. We were powerless so we could only do as they said.'

She shook her head, her regret evident in her eyes, 'Little did we know that they were filled with greed and merely wanted to use us. The guardian probably shed a tear because he felt, he had failed in the final duty bestowed upon him by the goddess as his consciousness cleared in his final moments. As for the rabbits...I can't say, but it probably also has to do with those beings.'

They digested all the information they had just gotten. It seemed the more answers they got, the more questions came up.

But before they could ask, Helda said, 'I'm sure you all have a lot more questions after what I've revealed. I can even guess your questions as they might have to do with the past, why you, what's going to happen to you and many more along those lines...right?'

They were surprised that she guessed it, but didn't have any words to say so they just nodded again.

Helda gave a smile, 'I thought so...all I can tell you is that from here I will send you to the outside of the forest which would be on top of a hill. At the bottom, you'll see a village called Trucehaven. You'll receive further information there.'

Then she looked at Seo-Jun's directions, 'And dear please don't be afraid of me because of my appearance being different from you. I have no intention of hurting you and I can't be controlled in case you're worried. The goddess made it so only guardians are like that as a precaution, though she trusted them with all her heart and never used it. Ironically, it was used against us.'

She wiped a stray tear that fell from the corner of her eye.

'Well any way I think we would've gotten along if you gave me the chance . But oh well.'

She began to sob.

'I apologize for my disgraceful behavior. It's just that...while in the outside world the goddess has been gone for over a thousand years, for me it's only been less than a year! I'm sure, no, I know, she is alive. She's ascended up and had no choice but to concede to her higher-ups, but naturally we can only regard that as a death since she's gone up in the heavens and we can never see her again!'

She wiped her tears as the group was confused as to what to do when Seo-Jun softly said, 'I'm sorry. I understand it must be hard for you, but please hang in there. I'm sure, one day everything will work itself out'.

It was assurance he needed himself, but couldn't get it. So, while he said this to her, he was also reassuring himself and his friends.

Helda gave him a smile, 'Thank You. Now, while I would love the much awaited company however every second you spend here is more time wasted, so I won't hold you anymore.'

She stepped back and waved her hand, 'If fate wills it we'll meet again, but for now it's goodbye. Good luck and I sincerely hope that you succeed. Farewell.'

Before they could say anything, the cave along with its inhabitant disappeared and their vision went black for a moment.

When they came to the Sun was high up in the sky and the scenery had changed. The blue sky was clear with fluffy white clouds, but no birds in sight. In fact, there wasn't any animal in the vicinity despite it being in a green place like this.

They were standing atop a hill and at the bottom, as Hilda had said, was a village.

Seo-Jun, who had been out of it for who knows how long in that cave, shakily stood up and looked at his teammates with a nodding gesture towards the village.

Jason stepped forward and said, 'Next stop, Trucehaven Village.'

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In another dimension...

The dokkaebi looked at the screen with an evil psychotic grin, staring at the group standing atop the hill.

He said in a bone chilling, yet mischievous tone, 'Well~ it seems our dear players have completed the tutorial and gotten somewhat decent in strength. Hehe'.

The kitsune rolled her eyes and said indifferently, 'Now, comes the real trials. Let's hope they can succeed so we can get them started on work and get our bosses of our back '.

The dokkaebi grinned widely, 'Why of course that's important~ Let's see how well they do there.'

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To be continued...

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Hilda: Well just me and my lonely self again. *Sniff*

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