Exhaling, my heartrate stabilized.
[Siola]: ‘What, I don’t faint if I don’t use it for too long? Who would’ve thought.’
! {You have killed 7 Players}
! {Your soul has now been tagged}
~ {Restriction may apply to E--/r}
~ {Restriction may apply to E--/r}
~ {Restriction may apply to E--/r}
! {E--/r}
“Huh? What’s this?”
! {Unknown Patch detected}
! {Resolving issue…}
! {Resolving issue…}
! {E--/r}
! {Issues persisted}
! {Submitting ticket…}
! {Submitting ticket…}
! {E--/r}
! {Account has been tagged}
[Siola]: ‘Hmm… a bug? Oh, well, as long as it doesn’t impact my experience or anything, I’m fine with it. Update is pretty new after all. If it even is a game.’
[Rosa]: “Good work. I see you’re still as visceral as ever. Reminds me of old time. Except, you actually have power now. Pure unfiltered power.”
[Siola]: “Just in this game… It’s a fantasy.”
She continues to follow and we soon reached the gate of Sonata Kingdom’s capital. It’s vast and large, spanning across several different terrains in height. Many people are running around in the grass fields as carriages and horses travel by the dirt road.
[Rosa]: “My goodness, would you look at that. To think something like this exist, it’s like a whole different world here.”
[Siola]: “Uhuh, it might just be.”
[Rosa]: “?”
People keep giving us the look and we were stopped by the gate.
[Guard] “Hold, you are… Travelers, are you not?”
[Guard]: “It is not that you are unwelcome, but clean yourself before entering. You can’t be walking around with blood all over you.”
[Guard]: “Sena, you’re up.”
A woman, ginger, freckles, nervously approaching me as she has her palms aim towards me, “A-Aqua Cleanse.”
Water appears from the ground, drenching me completely as it washes away the blood around me. And then, wind blows, drying me up.
[Guard]: “Alright, you’re good. But try to keep clean before you come here, okay? Next!”
Glancing at the frightened woman as I passed by.
[Siola]: “Rosa. I don’t think it’s just me, but…”
[Siola]: “Do I have something on my face that make people so… scared?”
[Rosa]: “Hmm? Let me see.”
Her face leaning so close.
[Rosa]: “No.”
[Siola]: “Hmm, I swear people seem a little frightened when I talk to them. From now on when we’re talking to NPC, you will be the one talking.”
[Rosa]: “Okay.”
Unlike Ravenswood, the capital city is absolutely filled with Players. And as for the NPCs. From pedestrians who just going about their day, to merchants inside their stores, and of course, nobles passing by in a fancy carriage. This place is a lot.
The pave road lead us to a small bridge where clean water flows. And just right before it is a building called Adventurers Guild.
* [Luosa]: I’m here, where you at.
* [BunnyLoop]: OHHH! There’s a Player’s restaurant on the other end, I’m on second floor. Looking around for you right now.
Charging up my [Hex Flame], I look up and see a woman in torn black robe scanning the area until she saw me. Her eyes brightened. I wonder if she actually thinks I’m the one selling. If so, she got quite lucky. Shouldn’t be waving that hand when you haven’t confirmed the other’s identity. Otherwise, you’d look like an idiot.
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
[Rosa]: “Siola, I’ll be back with you in a moment.”
[Siola]: “Where you off to?”
[Rosa]: “I saw something interesting.”
And she just left without me even agreeing to it. And so, I enter the premises on to the second floor and meet this buyer of my items. And just as I expected, she is not alone. A woman that is seemingly of a similar stature of a mature woman. Both of the buyer and her are of human race, spell casters too, surprisingly.
“BunnyLoop? My name’s Siola, the one selling the sets.”
She came to shake my hand, “Ahh, your ign is Luosa, right? Since you mention the set, you must be the one then. Please, have a seat.”
“So, first we’d like to um—.”
Before she even said, I took the item out of my inventory. Charred black and red. It is small, enough to fit in my palm.
Gasping as their eyes peeled.
[BunnyLoop]: “S-So that’s the item.”
[???]: “And the set?”
Glancing at her, I put the lock back in my inventory while their eyes locked on it. I have the trade open with the complete set, the weapon, the clothes, the footwraps. All it takes is a handshake.
[BunnyLoop]: “M-Mom, it’s….”
Her face grimaced.
[???]: “45 Million.”
[Siola]: “…”
What did she just say?
[Siola]: “Excuse me?”
[???]: “We’ll buy them for 45 million.”
[Siola]: “…”
What a waste of time. I stood and head towards the door.
[BunnyLoop]: “Wait, miss Siola! Please!”
Looking back.
[BunnyLoop]: “M-Mom, I thought we were—!”
Brows frowned. I can feel her sweat dripping.
There’s a lot of buyers who would pay good money, and a few for 45 million. But I could just go to them instead of one who tries to get back on a deal.
[???]: “50 million is a lot of money, dear. You don’t even know if it would work out like the way you wanted. We can still go other ways to complete your raid.”
[BunnyLoop]: “Yes, but it’s going to cost a lot too, and I won’t get any stronger from it if you spent the money to hire those people.”
[BunnyLoop]: “And besides, we could use the item for future raids, mom?”
[BunnyLoop]: “Pleaseee…”
Clenching her jaw, her attention returns to me, “50 million, is it?”
Rolling my eyes, I returned with my hand raised. She’s hesitant still, but ended up shaking it.
! {$50.000.000 – has been received. Pending Review}
~ {Item removed from Auction: Crypt Death Lock}
[???]: “Here, sweety.”
[BunnyLoop]: “Oh my god, thank you, mom! Thank you!”
[???]: “Yes, yes,” sighing, “What I wouldn’t do for you…”
[???]: “You said your name is Siola? To sell a whole set of such item, I can’t help but wonder if you still have more in your possession.”
[BunnyLoop]: “What, really?”
[Siola]: “Miss BunnyLoop’s mother—.”
[???]: “Kagesti.”
[Siola]: “Madam Kagesti.”
Pulling a dreaded tome out of my inventory. Their eyes peeled. Of course, they would, what I have here is the addon for the set that I just sold. Majestically glowing in blood red.
[Kagesti]: “That’s…”
[Siola]: “This here is Tome of the Mad Dead. This can conjure its minions as well as the boss monster in the Dread Black Dungeon.”
[BunnyLoop]: “M-Mad Dead… mom?”
[Kagesti]: “You,,, why didn’t you sell it with the rest?”
[Siola]: “Weapons and outfit, that is a set. Tome on the other hand. There’s no way I can give this away at 50 million, considering the fact that it also allows you to transform into Undeath.”
[Kagesti]: “Transform?!”
[Siola]: “When I wouldn’t even sell it at 50 million, of course, you won’t be seeing it in a cash shop.”
[Kagesti]: “Then why did you show it to us?”
[Siola]: “So that you can look forward to buying it.”
Her daughter looking at her.
[Kagesti]: “No, Loopy, no.”
[BunnyLoop]: “But, mom…”
[Kagesti]: “I said no.”
[BunnyLoop]: “Aww.”
Chuckles. Looking at them frantically panicking with fear of missing out. I suddenly remember what Rosa said to me before.
(Spending that amount of money? One would want to establish a connection. In case of future benefits.)
Invests in the future.
[Siola]: “Heheh, don’t you worry. I simply couldn’t sell it because I need to talk about it with my partner, but I’ll reserve it for you if those things you’ve got perform as you expected it to.”
[BunnyLoop]: “What, really?! You’re not lying, are you, miss Siola?”
[Siola]: “Heheh, I’ll give you, my promise.”
Her eyes gleamed in excitement.
[BunnyLoop]: “Thank you, thank you! Th-Then can I add you to my friends list?”
[Siola]: “We could make contact through the store, but sure.”
I walked away but my wrist was hold by the girl, “Thank you. Really.”
Tapping her hand, I walk out of there expecting Rosa to wait for me, but I don’t see her around. There’s no way I’m going to continue without her, so I went to look around.
But I can’t find her, and now I’m stuck sitting on this bench.
[Siola]: “Oh shit, I forgot that I can just… message her.”
[Siola]: “Bitch, I’m on a fucking bench by the side of the bridge. Come here!”
[Siola]: “And sent.”
Not long after that, she actually came.
[Rosa]: “Siola, look what I found.”
[Siola]: “Finally, you showed up.”
[Siola]: “Hm, is that a…”
A violin.
[Rosa]: “Remember how you made a beautiful piece for six days in a row? Grandfather was so awestruck that he brags about it to every one of his friends to no end.”
[Rosa]: “Here, try it.”
[Siola]: “It’s been years, I’ve lost touch of it.”
[Rosa]: “Merely a few. Go on.”
Glancing at it, I ended up taking it off her hand. It’s somewhat bigger than what I used to. It’s poorly made too. And yet, when I made a note.
[Rosa]: “Hmm, beautiful.”
It’s like it’s never left me, my hands keep on going. The highs, the lows. The memory of my past coming back to me. A dance. Music.
! {Requirement has been met}
* Play an instrument to a significant degree
! {New Quest Received}
* Music to My Ears / Uncommon / Be one with the sound / Requirement 1: Own an instrument / Requirement 2: Play an instrument to a significant degree / Reward: Class Change to Bard / Condition: None
The sound of notification brought me back. Memories of the faces of whom I’ve lost. Rakuri and Kurira. I will never forget them.
[Rosa]: “Why did you stop?”
[Siola]: “…”
[Siola]: “It’s just not for me.”
I gave it back to her.
[Rosa]: “Then, in that case. Would you like to hear one I’ve made?”
[Siola]: “Which one?”
[Rosa]: “Heheh, it’s a new one. I’ve been… making it for years. Wondering if it can catch up to you.”
Years?
Holding it gently before gripping it firmly. A small lengthy start before a fast stroke. The sound it hums, its ferocity, yet gentle and windy. Under the bright sun as the wind passing me by. I can remember those notes, the songs it was inspired from. Mine.
Stride fast and true. A very precise strike. Strong, witty, heart thumping sounds. Followed by a long-ended note, a fiery hand. Dynamically adjusting the tune as she left it hums. Echoes.
Echoes of Life.
‘You liar.’
Tears falling out of my eyes.
Her hands majestically move, the hums, hitting all the right notes. There’s no doubt about it. Her eyes, her smiles. The edges of my mouth tilted. I cannot believe it. For her to be cheating like this, but I have to admit. I don’t want her to stop.