Chapter 27
As Ava walked, her shoulders relaxed, and once they came to the board that would transport them into the first floor, she breathed in deeply, then turned around.
“Sorry. I guess I’m a little on edge.”
Leon nodded. “That’s fine.”
They sat down, leaning their backs against the wall while waiting for Hert to show up. They didn’t speak—all that was in their minds was the tower and what they would face. They had talked circles around the same thing, and it had even stopped feeling better to voice their thoughts and worries.
Leon opened up his inventory and scanned it through. He’d finally bit the bullet and opened the two black boxes. Both had contained bundles of straw classed as junk. He’d thrown them away, leaving three empty spaces in his inventory. He’d hoped to fill up two of those spots with items from the store—health potions and the wooden sword, just in case his weapons broke.
For once he had too many coins stacked up, because he couldn’t use them. So many, in fact, that he’d almost recouped what he’d spent earlier on weapons and such. No wonder that the prices were expensive, really. Once you got up in levels, it would probably feel easier to spend the money because you made more from using stronger weapons. The faster you could kill monsters, the safer it was, and the more money you made. Leon almost wished he hadn’t haggled as ruthlessly as he did. Maybe they would have been allowed in. He closed the window and looked at the rows of houses to the side of them.
A girl with ruffled blond braids sat leaned toward the wall, almost hidden by a group of Scabs. She drew with her fingers between the cobblestones, and Leon shot up on his feet.
“What is it?” Ava asked from where she sat.
“I’ll go talk to that girl. I’ll be back soon.”
Leon jogged to the group of Scabs, who looked up and immediately stretched out their hands. He ignored the requests and made his way to the girl. When he cast a shadow over her, she looked up. If he wasn’t mistaken, there was a glint of recognition in her eyes.
Leon opened the inventory and took out the rag doll. He stretched it out with both hands, holding it in the arms. “She’s for you. I told you; you look almost like twins.”
Her smile shot up to reach her ears, and with a squeal, she grabbed the doll and hugged it tight.
“Thank you, mister!” Her gleaming eyes turned toward the doll, and as Leon turned around to leave, a box popped up.
Quest Unlocked: Beggar’s Mercy
Gift coins to Scabs
Rank: U
Through showing kindness to the less fortunate, you have filled the quota to unlock a hidden quest.
Special: Unique Quest
First time information: Unique quests must be accepted or declined as soon as they are offered and can only be active for one player at a time. Should the player die or choose not to complete the quest, the penalty will be issued, the memory of what prompted the quest will disappear, and the quest will open for another player to find, unlock, and accept.
Rewards: Title [hidden], Extra Request (You get [hidden] once you [hidden]. The Extra Request can also be [hidden] if you decide to [hidden].)
If ignored or failed: Start over with the tutorial and lose your levels and skills
Special: Timed Quest
Do you accept this quest?
[Accept] [Decline]
Leon stared at the words in front of him. What should he do? It didn’t even specify the amount of coins, and the rewards were all but clear. The penalty for failing was enormous, but did that translate into the rewards as well? What if the rewards could help him scale the tower?
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Leon cursed under his breath, hoping he didn’t commit a grave mistake. “Accept.”
Quest accepted!
Quest: Beggar’s Mercy
Gift coins to Scabs
Rank: U
Progress: 0/100 000
Time left: 499 days 23 hours 59 minutes
Rewards: Title [hidden], Extra Request (You get [hidden] once you [hidden]. The Extra Request can also be [hidden] if you decide to [hidden].)
If ignored or failed: Start over from the tutorial and lose your levels and skills; should you fail this quest, no coins will be reimbursed
Leon gaped at the text. One. Hundred. Thousand. Coins. No. No, no, no. Why did he accept the quest?
“Can I change my mind?” Leon asked into the air.
Do you wish to cancel this quest?
Warning: Canceling a quest will trigger the quest’s penalty
[Yes] [No]
“No,” he whispered. Now would be the best time if he wanted to get rid of the quest, but he’d worked too hard. Even if Ava and Hert didn’t count on him to venture inside with them, it would be a poor decision to let the penalty kick in. The more time it took for him to enter the tower, the harder it would be to beat.
He looked at his balance, which stood at a little over 500 coins for four days of killing wolves and selling the loot. Even if he continued that pace, it would take much longer to gather the funds than the time limit allowed. He drew in a shaky breath. No, as he rose in levels, the monsters would give off more money. Maybe he could do this within the time limit if he raised his level and got more.
Leon bit his cheek and turned toward the group.
“Do you want coins?”
“Please, sir, give me a coin.”
Seven boxes cropped up over each other. Leon pressed “yes” on all of them in quick succession and saw seven coins disappear from his account balance.
Another box appeared.
You have activated Beggar’s Curse
Leon stared at the box. He’d forgotten about that. He backed away as the Scabs down the street started ambling toward him. How was he supposed to give all that money if the Beggar’s Curse got activated each time?
Then he stopped with a grin.
A hand pulled on his shoulder as the Scabs started to gather.
“Leon, what are you doing?”
He turned his head to Ava. “I got a hidden quest. To give 100 000 coins to Scabs.”
She pulled him away.
Leon stopped, frowning. “I didn’t think the Beggar’s Curse would activate, but it’s a great way to distribute coins.”
“It’s not! Come!” Ava ran, and Leon followed.
”Wait, explain!”
“Outside the arch.”
They continued past the guards, where Ava halted. “Why did you have to do that?”
“I had to accept or decline the quest straight away.”
“Not that.” She waved his words away and looked into his face with a stern expression. “Why did you have to start the Beggar’s Curse? We’re heading into the tower, remember?”
“Of course I do. I just forgot about it. But why can’t I just stay there and give a little to those who come?”
“Because it probably won’t count.” Ava sighed and crossed her arms. “When the Beggar’s Curse activates, they will still ask the question, but it doesn’t matter if accept, decline, or ignore them, because if they come close enough, they’ll take what you have, no matter what your answer is. They’d take your backpack, too.”
Leon swore. “The quest said to gift the Scabs with coins. And that way, it wouldn’t count. Is that what you’re trying to say?”
Ava nodded. “That aside, why would you gift them with anything at all? I’ve told you, nothing really happens to this part of the town. They don’t have the brains to do something worthwhile, no matter what kind. Never mind renovations.” Ava narrowed her eyes and shook her head. “You’re going to throw away a fortune, and for what?”
Leon frowned. “How come you aren’t affected by the curse in any way?”
She shrugged. “I’m not a sting of code.”
“Fair point.” Leon leaned against the wall with his shoulder and looked at the Scabs that had followed them. One by one, they turned around to go back to their spots on the road. “Sorry for starting up the curse.”
“It’s fine.”
“Hey, what if I gift you the coins? That would count, right?”
Ava scratched her cheek. “I suppose. Would you give me a coin, please?”
A box popped up, and Leon accepted it. A coin disappeared from his account, and he looked at the quest. The progress had increased by one. “It works! Perfect.”
“Good. But let’s do more after the tower, since you don’t really have a choice about it anymore. So stu—” Ava cleared her throat and sighed. “I suppose I’ll go to the portal to wait for Hert. I’ll come back to tell you when he’s there.” She turned to leave. “Just… when I come back, be ready to run.”
*******
Leon ran past the groups of Scabs gathering before and to the sides of him, tackled a man, and saw the board outside the tower.
“Hert, now,” Ava said, and the box for joining the party popped up.
Leon pressed yes and dismissed the box with the boons—they looked to be the exact same as earlier.
A wall made of jute clothes made Leon try to slide between two Scabs, but whatever they seemed to do in movies didn’t work. Hands grabbed at him, and though he didn’t see any coins leaving, a message popped up that his account balance held ten fewer coins. Once the two got what they looked for, they released him, and Leon scrambled up on his feet.
More and more Scabs grouped up, and he barely avoided their outstretched arms. He ran toward the board, and Hert, who’d changed from his leather apron to the tank outfit of a metal square over wool, pressed his hand on the board.