Author's note: Yush, I'm still alive! It is just that there are many things coming up, and not only that, but my addiction to games... and me brainstorming a new story that came up to my mind and was too good to pass up. I'm not posting the new story just yet though. xD I still need to plan it step by step and not wing-it.

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I was a bit lazy on my work. I simply filled the holes and walls with earth, until it looked good to go. I didn't wish to make it as tough as before, but just usable enough for her to not notice.

You learned a new skill!RepairRating: ★☆☆☆☆Level 4, beginnerXP: 23.00%Cost: Varies(MP)Cast time: 2 seconds per cubic meterCooldown: 0 secondsType: magicThrough experience on repairing things, you can now use earth magic to repair simple structures! Be careful, the repaired areas is quite weaker than they previously were!

"Ah, destroying is so much easier than fixing."

I sighed with a tired smile, looking at the now fully fixed arena. It is too bad it wasn't a quest, otherwise I'd gain quite a few levels for that...but the repair skill was just as good, especially since it was a magical repair, rather than repairing physically.

"I've finished! So, what is my rank as an adventurer?" I said as I walked outside of the training room, to the receptionist's desk, only to have her smile a bit.

"That... was faster than I expected. Well, since you managed to beat me, you are B-rank, but I advise you to only accept C-rank or lower missions for now. Don't overestimate yourself, alright?" The woman replied, showing me a rather happy, yet a bit tired smile.

I nodded. "So...is there a badge or something?" I asked curiously. There must be some sort of system, right?...but yet she just laughed.

"Well, I need to make them first.By a week or two, it'll be ready." 

Ah, so there's that. To avoid the stealing of badges, they make it on the spot."Alright, I'll be back soon!" I said to Larissa, waving to her as I walked away.

Unlike before, there was relatively few adventurers, although Aya was still there, chatting with Ragnor cheerfully.

"Well, I've just passed the level of the wolves recently, what place should I try to explore next?" 

"I'd advise exploring caverns for most of people, but for your kind, I'd suggest the mountains instead. The biggest difficulty of the mountains is the terrain, and anything short of the ocean and volcanos shouldn't be the biggest issue, while caverns are either too small for yourself, or have monsters that are too dangerous for you thus far, and due to your web, flying monsters can easily be killed by you." Ragnor gave as a reply, still drinking beer. I did not know how many bottles he had drunk so far, but he finally showed signs of being a bit tipsy.

"I'm back! I...uh...accidentally damaged the arena and needed to fix it." I shouted happily to the two of them, as I ran to the table...although I needed to jump to even reach the bottom of the chair, before I managed to get on top of it. "I am a proud B-ranker now!" 

"I'm so happy for you!" Aya replied, with a smile. I expected her to be jealous, but she didn't follow my expectations. Instead, she was quite happy for me, I could see it in her eyes.

"Oh, who is the little lady, Aya?"  The bulky man said, laughing cheerfully as he placed his mug on the table.

...He was a bit intimidating, but I knew he meant no harm. But yet, I was sure he could destroy me in the matter of a second or two, even if it was only because we were so close to each other. "Oh, my name is Nysa, and I'm a magic scholar!" I said with a wide, proud grin.

"...You don't look very scholar-ish, though." Ragnor replied, skeptically...although that only made me a bit mad.

"I agree with Ragnor. You look closer to an over-energetic child than a scholar or researcher." Aya added, crossing her arms as she did so.

"At least I'm civilized enough to wear shirt and pants." I replied, with a smug grin, only to make Ragnor laugh, while Aya froze up in embarrassment, although she soon recovered and laughed shily as well.

"You know...I think the adventurer's guild is going to close soon, since the people working here need to sleep." I said, shily. "Besides...me and Aya still need to reserve a room in the inn." 

Stolen novel; please report.

"Oh, wait, that is true..." Aya replied, rubbing the back of her head. "We lack any money, though..." She mumbled, 

pouting at that.

"Well...that's a problem." I replied, rubbing the back of my head.

"I'm not very good with teams, but the place I'm going to go is relatively safe for me, and it isn't something that should get you two killed. How about I pay for the rest at the inn, and you two become my teammates for this next adventure?" Ragnor said, smiling a bit.

"Well... I'm not sure, we might be taking advantage of yo-"

"We accept!" Aya said, picking me up almost like a doll, without giving me time to reject his offer.

"Alright, ladies. I'll meet you both at the inn." He said with a wide grin. "I still have to pay the tabs, you two go ahead." 

We both nodded in agreement,  and afterwards walked out...mainly for a breather, rather than going in the inn right away.

"This place is so much fun, isn't it?" I asked with a smile, rather happily as I looked at Aya's eyes."I am looking forward to the adventure we'll go tomorrow!" I added, grinning widely...

Although by some reason, that made Aya look a bit uncomfortable, averting her gaze. "Y-yeah, I'm looking forward to it too." She mumbled as she rubbed the back of her head.

"What is the matter?" I couldn't help but ask, blinking a bit as I stared at her. "I mean...uh..." I couldn't say it. The words escaped me. I couldn't think of how to finish this sentence. 

"Nothing, don't worry about it." She replied. I knew there was something she was hiding from me... and I knew there was something I hid from her as well: I am a player.

These few seconds, somehow felt longer than the day we've spent together... as the clouds on the sky spread, revealing the beautiful moon, and some of the stars, shining brightly. I stared at it, rather than at Aya. I knew what the stars are, I've seen it countless times, but yet none of them shone as brightly as tonight.

"The sky is beautiful tonight, isn't it?" I asked. I didn't need to look back, to know she nodded in agreement. Even though I've already slept in the game a few times, I didn't ever had spent the time to enjoy the scenery.

Ragnor walked outside of the adventurer's guild by now, to see both me and Aya stargazing. "Hey, you two! You both should come inside, it is a bit cold out here, right?" He said... probably out of concern, as I doubt he could be affected by weather so much.

"Right. Aya, let's go to the inn." I said, although it took a few seconds for her to snap out of it."R-right!" She said cheerfully, and somewhat embarrassed, as she walked inside of the inn, still carrying me. Not that I mind it.

And soon we arrived inside of the inn, where it was mostly empty. Most of people were already sleeping by now. "Two rooms, please. One for a single person, and one for two." Ragnor said simply, placing a silver coin on the counter.

The innkeeper nodded, as she gave him the keys to two rooms. One was number 8...and the other one was number 9. "Sleep early, and wake early ladies. I want to go out by 8th AM." He said.

"Alright..." Aya said, although her happiness, compared to earlier when she was talking, had diminished quite a bit, and she looked closer to...tense, maybe even tired. Was it something I said?

The one that had both me and Aya, was the 8th, while Ragnor got the 9th one, our rooms being right besides another. "Thanks, Ragnor!" I said, waving at Aya, although I was absently-minded for now. I was a bit worried about Aya herself, especially with the way she acted.

We both walked inside of the room, where Aya just dropped me casually on my own bed, which was a bit too large for my comfort, before she just jumped on her own, wordlessly.

"...uh...Aya? If there is any problems, just say it, alright?" I replied, with a sheepish smile. only for her to shake her head.

"No, it is nothing, Nysa. You should go to sleep, tomorrow you have a long day." was Aya's reply.

I nodded, covering myself under the blankets. While the others slept, I had something else I wanted to do.

"Menu" I whispered to myself, opening the menu screen.

OptionsEquipmentStatusInventoryMessagesLog out

Afterwards, I pressed the log off button. Real world, here I come!