CHAPTER 4

[MC) woke up drowsy. The first thoughts he had were of how he had been poisoned by eating the meat.

I almost died again. I'm not going to blame Morgan for not knowing the animal she killed was piosoness.

[MC] slowly opened his eyes to find himself in some sort of medieval type of building. He could see herbs all around the building. The herbs gave off an exotic smell to the room.

He slowly began to rise. As he did, he looked around for Morgan. He didn't see her as panic began to set in. He then realized he had a notification from Morgan.

I am so sorry I poisoned you with that meat. I had no idea that beast carried rank A poison. I was able to stop it from spreading. Sadly, I needed more help than I could have. I had to fly to work your unconscious body to a nearby village to get your help. I flew into the center of the town to a healer’s house for help. I then was approached by guards as I had to fly away. I tried to explain to a group of guards what happened.

I had unlocked a new ability. It lets me buff you even when I'm miles away. I hope to see you soon Morgan.

[MC] sent her a message back saying he had woken up. He felt funny on the inside still. He secretly checked his status again to see what was wrong.

Player cannot use cheater skill from severe poisoning debuff. If any poison remains. Player cheater skill is nulled.

Although the poison debuff was now mild. He was still aggravated.

He put the thought away as he looked around again. He saw in one corner of the shop was a young blond girl with pointed ears. She was making potions of some kind. As far as [MC] could guess. He watched her for a while in silence before his body began to itch all over all of a sudden.

Why I am so itchy? He thought as a new notification came up.

He didn't realize it but his skin at the spots where he scratched turned light purple. The more he scratched the darker they got.

All his moving around got the attention of the young girl. She looked over for her expression to change to horror as she ran over to him. She grabbed a few vials of dark liquid as she did. The next thing [MC] saw was her cast a spell while she ran before, he fell unconscious again.

[MC] kept having the same experience the next few days before it all stopped. The healer told him what was going on the next time he woke up.

She told him he had to ignore the itches. The poison he was suffering from would manifest at the itchy spots and leak out. He was told the amount of poison his body was holding was the most she had ever seen. She told him she could have left him for dead. If she did his body would infect the whole town. It would cause everyone to itch uncontrollably. If untreated, people would grab any and every item they could find to scratch themselves. This is why the poison in his body had been dubbed the ‘itching plague.’

He tried to scratch again, and she had to put him under. She was forced to end up having him restraint the next few times. He cried out from the itchiness as he tried to use anything to scratch with. She had to keep putting him out with each attempt.

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It took [MC] about a week to recover. The healer was doing a final check over him. She determined he was now free of the poison. Just to double check she had him check his status. They both looked it over in confirmation. He was to leave when she spoke up.

“And where do you think you are going? I didn't do all this for free. You are going to have to pay up.”

You have been debuffed with contain. You will not be able to move or leave this location. Furthermore, contact with others is nullified.

Condition for containment: you owe a debt that needs to be paid. Jessica has triggered negotiations.

[MC] froze at the comment before speaking. “Unfortunately, I have no money…”

The elf stared at him with cold eyes. She casted a spell locking the door keeping him from exiting.

[MC] gulped at the situation.

“You will have to work for me to pay me back the debt for your treatment. Your lucky I just won't turn you over to the authorities. You have cost me a years’ worth of expenses.”

[MC] spoke with fear in his voice.” Exactly how much is that anyways?”

“Around 100 gold coins. I was knowledgeable enough to use ingredients that were not as pricey otherwise it would have cost you more. The only way I'll let you leave here is by accepting you owe me a debt. There are two ways this can work. One you can work for me here doing things. Although with that salary it would take you a hundred years just to pay that off.

[MC] stared in horror before asking the second option.

“Your second option is you can go work at the adventurer’s guild under the pay back by debt program. There you can work as an adventurer helping pay back your debt. You would be assigned to a high ranking adventure to help you. Their job would be to make sure you can rank up enough or help with quests. After all, what is dead with a debt going to pay that back? Honestly, I would take that route. Who knows maybe you can get it paid off within about 10 years.”

“10 years?!” [MC] said, choking on his words.

“10 years is the average pay rate if you are good. I saw you had no adventurer rank. At least with the debt you get priority on quests. Although 75% of gains you make come to me.”

[MC] thought long and hard. He knew it would be cool to do quests. In all honesty is was the better decision to take.

“I'll do the debt program," he finally spoke up.

“Good choice." The elf spoke.

“Unfortunately, you must wear this arm band. It tells the guild that you owe me a debt. It will transfer any rewards magically to me. Like loot you don't want you can give away to make up for it.”

[MC] stood there as she put the bracelet on him. It magically sealed itself to him. A new notice popped up for him.

You are indebted to Jessica. Upon fulfilling debt you cannot remove this bracelet.

He checked the notification before letting out a sigh.

“Oh, before I forget. If you find any healing materials while you adventure. I will take those as debt payment as well.”

Containment spell has ended.

“Sure.” [MC] replied as she removed the spell to the door.

“You can find the adventurers guild for Riverland in the middle of town. It isn't big. Just show them the bracelet when you arrive.”

He thanked her for the directions but was angry at having to owe a debt. He just sighed as he made his way to the guild house to start paying off his debt.