Chapter 43

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"Why are you following me?"

"The sergeant asked me to make sure no one hurts you."

"Who's going to hurt me in the city? It's a peace zone!"

"The sergeant asked. I'm complying. By the way, it's time for you to go to the Merry Bush."

"I know. It'll wait."

I sighed. Things had gone wrong with this newbie all at once. At first, he didn't heed my call to go to the training ground to get the quest. He was running all over the Temple, jumping down the stairs, questioning the servants about strange things, staring at the frescoes and statues with curiosity - just acting like a slacker! If only he knew what it took to get the Master Sergeant to give a quest to "a newcomer to the world". The wicked NPC had me all worked up till he agreed to send him to "some experienced warrior of the Temple, retired from business, who can give some good advice and tell him how to behave". But he agreed and, after taking the exam (the novice almost failed it, passing only the first opponent), sent him to the town, to the Merry Bush, after all.

Not exactly what I wanted, but I can use this quest NPC as the basis for my next quest. I have to convince the newbie to go there first, though.

"You have to go to the tavern."

"I have to build a ziggurat! I also have to do more quests to get a level. When I get to level five, then I'll go. So tell me, where can I get a normal quest to get more exp?"

Yep. Smartass newbie.

"A quest? That's the lot of people who work hard and thoughtfully on themselves, and you're just a beginner."

"Then we have to get out of town. Let's go."

"I can't go out of town. I have to escort you to the Merry Bush."

And at the same time, do not say too much. But what can I do if the newbies in Adar are either like that? They don't understand anything or are reincarnated game-worn pros. They can figure out what I want to do at the count of two.

"Indeed. Are there thieves in town?"

"There are guards in town, which means there are no thieves."

"And the sewerage system?"

"Have you got a stomachache?"

"Quests are always given either in a hangout or in a sewer!"

Logical.

"There's a sewer here. But you won't get experience if I kill your enemies."

"Screw it. You'll slaughter the creatures. I finish them off. But all the loot is mine!"

"Okay. You can devote an hour to helping the city clean up. But no more than that."

"Let's go."

He galloped forward, bouncing occasionally. Why do all newbies like jumping so much? I stopped and jumped once, twice. There's nothing so special about it. And the downstairs neighbors might not like it. So... where is he now?

"Yes, I've found it! Where are you? Come this way."

That's a pro. It took me a lot longer to find that entrance the first time, and it's like he's walking on a map. Here's wondering if there's a mod that shows the road in the goggles. I have already installed the quest-NPCs highlighting, equipment, and information are also shown, but why are there no "guiding threads"?

"Hey, retard, hurry up! Were you in a hurry somewhere?"

A familiar hatch. The familiar assistant city caretaker nodded at me.

"All right, let's go. So, I hit the first one. You finish it. Mob's count on me."

"You won't get the experience..."

"For mobs, yes, they'll cut you off. But you're a guardian, aren't you, level fifty? A stupid system with anonymity. Inconvenient! One of your blows - and the mob dies, I get it counted, then just turn in a quest and get the reward."

"The overseer will give less each time."

"I don't give a shit. As long as he gives."

"We have one hour. Go on."

And he started to act.

It looked impressive. The speed with which he lured the unfortunate elementals and worms to my blows was amazing. It took us about five minutes for a single quest to kill twenty elementals. I wish I'd had a partner like that at the beginning of the game!

I would have shot myself on the second day.

I'm still trying to hit the mud ball, and this hyperactive one is already running to turn in the task, scolding my "slowness". I had to use the Ice Arrow scrolls from the sling a couple of times to keep him from getting nibbled by worms, once I unluckily jumped off the path and tripped, hitting my head on the wall in the game, so the bastard just laughed, advised "not to step on the poop" and ran off after the next monster.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

It pisses me off!

"All right, let's go. They're not giving enough anymore. The fourth level in an hour, that's great!"

"It's time to go..."

"...to the Merry Bush. Show me where it is!"

I had to check the map.

The journey through the city also showed that we have different attitudes toward the game. The rookie was going at it like a tank, asking everyone the same question: "Is there a job?" That's the fountain I was standing at once, listening, and he immediately got drunk and moved on. This is where the magicians from the barracks perform on the corner. I often stop to watch; some are clearly sketched from the masters performing in Vegas. But the newcomer just ran through without even stopping. When two dubious types came out of an alleyway towards us, he immediately hid behind me and demanded, "Kill them. They're obviously up to something!" They turned out to be local longshoremen, and after bowing out, I asked for directions. After chatting for a minute, I said goodbye and went on my way.

"Why didn't you kill them?"

"Why?"

"They're obviously burglars, aren't they?!"

"Ordinary poor townsfolk. Not everyone has nice clothes and silverware for a hearty dinner."

"Dumb. I'd loot something out of them. Oh, what do you know!"

He ran forward again, and I had to catch up. He darted through the dark door at full throttle, disappearing, leaving me anxious to hurry. As I entered, I saw the smiling plant elemental on the sign.

My ward was seated opposite a broad-shouldered man who was gloomily staring at him. I approached, said a polite hello, and sat down at the next table. The man just glanced at me and stared at the novice again.

"So what can you tell me about paladin life?"

"What makes you think I'm going to tell you anything, alien?"

"I was sent by that... what's his name... well, he teaches sword waving in the Temple."

"Is the Old Wolf still a mentor?" The man looked indifferently into his mug. "What does he want from me?"

"Tell me how to be a paladin?"

"How to be? You go by the Will of the Temple where evil has appeared. You fight, sparing neither yourself nor evil. Trust your comrades, defend the innocent, and bring a righteous judgment if necessary."

I smiled. The charter of the Temple said that an initiate of Amala should avoid trials.

"Is that all? Can't you teach me how to fight?"

"You'll learn it yourself. It's easy - you pick up a sword... or whatever it is you have. And you fight."

I smiled again. Yeah, it's pretty simple.

"That's it?"

"That's enough."

"Yeah. Good. Okay, now to the Temple. Hey, let's go."

As I stood up, I saw only the back of the hectic gamer disappear into the doorway.

"Do you mind if I come back later?"

"I'm opposed to it."

"That's good. Don't go anywhere, please."

Where's that jet out there? Already at the end of the street?!

I only caught up with him when he started to slow down in front of the Temple entrance.

"You did your mentor's task, but you could have learned so much more from this warrior."

"All right, all right. Reward me already. You dumbass NPC. You work for me, I appreciate that, but you're pissing me off with your nerdiness!"

I froze. So all this time, the cheeky noob thought I was an NPC?!

Vlad, you're getting too into this game!

A menu, an exchange. Let it be... here.

"A Blessing Scroll? Fourth rank, cool. What else?"

"You've been on this assignment too long, rookie."

"Damn! Screw it. Five levels in an hour and a half aren't bad, either. Oh, the quest wasn't canceled, bug! Nice!"

He turned back against the wall, froze, and then a misty haze wafted through the air, disappearing after twenty seconds.

Yeah, well, no different from the other customers who also think they're owed everything. I wish I knew what Sarge was going to give him as a reward.

"Are you finished with this young man?"

"Behind him stood the Martial Arts Mentor."

"Yes. He made me run, but I showed him the town in the process."

"I don't think he's your friend?"

"Not at all. It was accidentally sent to me, and it seems to have been sent as a trial."

"Yeah. I've got a lot of trials like that..." he nodded at the training yard, "plenty of them. How's the Old Fox?"

"He called you the Old Wolf."

Mentor snorted.

"We also had an Old Owl. It's a shame about the way it turned out."

"How?"

"He didn't tell you? Then I shouldn't either."

I was silent. He stood beside me, clearly remembering something, then shook his head and left without a word.

The second time I walked to the Merry Bush, I walked much more slowly. I threw a coin into the fountain, watched a magician take a fox out of his hat, and talked to a farmer who was staying with relatives in town about the harvest prospects. I found out, by the way, that there is a new Misty spot, albeit a very small one, relatively near the town, and marked it on the map.

Finally, realizing that I was just procrastinating, I made up my mind.

The familiar door creaked open. I went down the two steps and looked around.

The man was still sitting there. Only there were more empty mugs.

"So you were a paladin?"

The man looked up.

"Oh, a temple guy has come to see me. Again. But no longer sitting at the next table, pretending to be a casual visitor, but coming straight to me. Would you like a drink?"

"I will. But my own, if you don't mind."

"So you're not going to slip wine with a truth-squeezer?"

I waved vaguely.

"What for? You're going to tell me a lot of interesting things as it is."

"Are you sure?" He smirked, then sipped from his mug. "Sure. You young ones are all so sure. Of the clarity of warlords, of the courage of your brothers, of the purity of the gods."

"No offense, brother, but there's no need to scold Her."

The warrior nodded:

"Yes, it's not the girl's fault that she is served by scum."

"Are you sure they are scum?"

Interesting: he was the first of the NPCs associated with the temple to speak of the goddess in that way! It was as if he'd been written off of me. Although if the scriptwriter is following me, that might well be the case.

"The only thing I am sure of is that there are people who want more than they are entitled to by human and divine law. And in order to get it, they are ready to break the destinies of their brothers... former brothers."

"Even so?"

Synchronising, I picked up a goblet of rosehip brew and sipped.

"I want to know more."

"What for?" He put the mug on the table with a clatter. "What can you do? They think their goals give them the right to do anything! Betray, steal, even..." He hesitated, taking a few sips.

"I want to know because I am Her Paladin. I see some incomprehensible movements in the Temple, I find inconsistencies..."

The warrior burst into laughter:

"Inconsistencies?! Brother, thank you! I haven't had this much fun in a couple of years!"

"So what happened then?"

"Then?" He became serious again. "I'm not going to tell you anything, Paladin of the Healer. I was just protecting my friends, and what happened... Here's a thing for you, beautiful, useful. I still have the last of it, so why not share it with my temple brother?"

You have received an item - a Potion of the Divine Touch

"Want to know more? There's a village by the Great Hill with a gnome faction, copper, and stuff like that. Find Iglis. He's probably an apothecary or something. Ask him. I can't help you with anything else." Heaving heavily, the warrior threw a few coins on the table and picked up the cloak that hung from the back of the chair.

"Wait!" I jumped up. "The Valley of the Fallen? Where is it? Do you know it?"

"It's all there. It's all there. Iglis will tell you." He waved a hand and staggered towards the exit.

Strong, large, and a little tipsy, this warrior walked like a decrepit old man, leaning on the edges of tabletops, shuffling his feet, and staring at the floor in front of him.

I called up the menu.

A Potion of the Divine Touch.

Contains the Divine Touch spell.

That's it.

"Comp, search. The words 'creators of destiny', 'the potion of the divine touch'."

Zero exact matches. I was holding an object in my hands that had never been seen on the web before.

It seems that my venture with the quest has been a success.

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