{You've experienced a bug.}

"A bug?' I asked.

{Well with all of the minion society being created by the System it was going to have some unintended effects. We call those bugs. It would seem that you are connected to the mask however, your body is what gets teleported to the match, and your mask, you, comes along as an item equal to the core body. Your body is teleported but if your mask is removed your consciousness does not. SImilair to if a human was able to remove their heads whenever they wanted to and walk around. You can still control your body but with the fact that minions can't feel anything and the fact that your main body is invisible. So until somebody comes to our rescue you're trapped like this.}

"Isn't there any other way? Can't you talk to the system about this?"

{Unfortunately, I have no way to contact the system. we're going to have to just wait until Paul comes to our rescue. Don't worry! You'll have me as company the whole time!}

The next few days were a blur. or rather one static image at unable to move. The only thing that ever came up was the system notification of my body completing a match without me. Of course, it was the same stat page as my body couldn't move without me. I decided that once I got my body back I wouldn't mess around with removing my mask, at least for a little while. Eventually, I heard the door creak open. I tried to look but, of course, I had no neck and no way to see so instead I just called out.

"Hey! Come help me out!" I yelled, afraid that they would leave thinking that I wasn't home.

"Newbie is that you?" The voice I easily recognized was Paul.

"I have never been more happy to see you, Paul! Please help!" I spoke.

"Where are you?" He spoke.

"I'm over here following my voice," I responded.

He walked into my vision looking around, seemingly confused at where my voice was coming from.

"Down here on the counter," I spoke.

He turned to look at me before freezing on the spot.

"...."

"......"

"......."

"So-" Paul tried to speak before I cut him off.

"Can we talk about it later? I just wanna get back to my body." I spoke.

"Yeah... where is your body anyway?" He responded picking me up and allowing me to finally see a different view.

"It should be at the post-match lobby," I responded.

"So I'm looking for a minion without a face." He spoke.

"Not exactly i'll explain on the way," I spoke.

On the way, I explained my current situation and about the 'bug' as Samantha had called it.

"I'm honestly impressed that you thought of that newbie, but my only question is why? Were you trying to be invisible and hide in the AMM matches? I get it, must be rough having to do those matches every day." Paul spoke.

I hadn't told him that I had switched off AMM matches and decided to drop my reputation. If I was being honest I was nervous to tell him.

{You should probably tell him soon.}

"I will, I just wanna get my body back first."

"You will what?" He asked.

Crap, I didn't mean to say that out loud. The whole Samantha talking in my head is still getting some talking used to.

"I uh, I'll tell you about it once we get my body back," I responded.

After walking a little longer we eventually made it to the post-match lobby, now came the hard part.

Finding my body.

With Minion's bodies being invisible and the clothing being the only visible part (Which I removed) Finding my body was going to be a task for sure.

"This won't be that hard," Paul spoke shocking me.

"What? How? You do realize it's invisible right?" I responded.

"Yeah, but on the other side, it's not moving. There are only thirty or so spots that a minion can spawn so all we have to do is walk around in those areas until we bump into it." He spoke.

Despite my uncertainty about his plan, it worked perfectly. It was later in the day the post-match crowd was mostly gone. So after checking around fifteen of the things we bumped into it.

"Now comes the hard part" Paul spoke.

"Hard part? We just did the hard part." I responded.

"Well, where should I put your mask on? Maybe down here." Paul spoke whilst moving my mask to the groin area, or at least what he thought was the groin area.

"Not funny," I spoke.

"It kinda is," he replied.

After toying with me for a bit longer he eventually put my face back on and we headed back.

On the way back a couple of passersby seemed shocked at the floating minion mask. They also seemed to avoid us, most likely because of my reputation. I felt bad for Paul having to walk next to me and share the death glares that I was getting, but he seemed unfazed, at least that's what I hoped (I was still getting used to the whole Minion expression thing.)

Pretty soon we made it back and I was able to reunite with my clothing, I felt strange when it wasn't on. Once I had my clothing on and was fully visible once again I took a sigh of relief. I wasn't planning on trying that out again anytime soon.

After giving me a moment Paul asked

"So what did you want to talk about."

My stomach sank. I had forgotten that I had told him I wanted to talk. I thought I should tell him about the dropping rep situation but I was terrified of his response. However, before I had time to respond....

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"Minions have spawned" A woman's voice spoke.

It made sense after all it had taken a while to find my body and everything but that couldn't have been worse timing. The silver lining was that I was finally able to do matches again. Just thinking of the last few days gave me chills. Although not everything was good. A sword swung right down on me as I was lost in thought. A barrage of attacks followed soon after and soon enough the world went black. I had forgotten about The Murders. I was getting really tired of this but, it looked like I was in for another day of dying.

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Once the match was finally finished I couldn't help but sigh. That was draining.

{T-That seems rough}

"It is. It very much is." I spoke out loud to Samantha as people gave me weird looks.

exhausted I headed home. The plus of all of this seemed to be that I had a couple more days to come up with some courage to tell Paul or at least that's what I thought. By the time I got home Paul was already there waiting for me.

"Quick match?" I spoke, hoping that I could somehow small talk my way into him forgetting.

"It was, anyways what did you need to say to me yesterday?" He spoke.

"..... Nice weather today right?" I responded.

{Well that sucked}

"Quiet Samantha" I spoke out loud.

"Samantha?" Paul spoke.

I couldn't help but scowl. I needed to start talking inside my head with Samantha.

"It's uh.. a long story," I responded hoping that he wouldn't push.

"Is that your System Advisor?" He asked.

"H-how did you know?" I responded.

{Of course, he knew he-} Samantha tried to talk but I cut her off.

"Not now Samantha" I spoke, if he knew then there was no worry about talking to her out loud.

"So the System did contact you. How come you didn't tell me when I asked the other time?" He spoke.

"It didn't contact me until after our conversation and my mind was on other things so I didn't tell you after sorry," I responded.

"What did it tell you?" He asked.

"What do you mean?" I responded.

"I'm sure you know about System Favor. The System Advisor is meant to guide you to becoming a Hero and getting System Favour. What did it say? I'm, sure it was nothing good. Is that what you wanted to talk about? What about-" He tried to continue rambling but I cut him off.

"Wait wait wait, let me ask some questions first. How did you know what a System Advisor is?" I responded.

{Again of course he knew he-}

"Samantha please stop!" I yelled. I wanted to hear why from Paul himself.

"I don't want to tell you." He spoke.

"So then we both have secrets we want to keep them," I spoke slightly annoyed.

"Both? Nonono, trust me you need to tell me what it told you!" Paul spoke, his voice rising.

"Not until you tell me why you know what a System Advisor is!" I responded.

"Aren't you being a little forward? You do realize I've been helping you this whole time! But fine if you want to know then it's because I used to have one!" He spoke.

"Used to?" I asked.

"Yes, I deleted it and I suggest you do the same depending on what it's asking you!" He spoke.

{What! Don't listen to him he's a monster! You wouldn't wanna kill me right?}

I sighed and ignored Samantha. Then I took a deep breath to calm myself before speaking

"Sorry for being pushy earlier, it's been a rough few days. This is all happening very fast. Samantha, my System Advisor told me to drop my reputation to try and hunt the Most Wanted for System Favour." I responded.

Samantha was saying something but, I ignored it to the best of my ability. As far as I can tell they both seem to be after whatever they think is best for me, but if Paul can give me proof that Samantha is bad for me I would consider getting rid of her and finding another way to get System Favour. Although I would feel bad about deleting her, plus the thought of doing AMM for the next couple of months sounded worse than dealing with The Murders.

"That's what it said? Your System Advisor was even more crazy than mine." He spoke.

"Really? What did yours say?" I asked.

"It told me to steal monster camps from Heroes" Paul responded.

"Wait a second, my System Advisor told me that I couldn't gain System Favour that way!" I responded.

{That's because-}

"Samantha please," I spoke firmly.

{....Sorry}

"She's right" Paul spoke.

"How? If you got it that way then why can't I?" I asked.

"....It doesn't matter." He spoke

I was annoyed that he was hiding stuff from me but, I didn't want to start an argument by pushing it.

"Anyways, start by getting rid of your System Advisor. On another note how's the AMMs going? I know they're rough but, you'll be done with them soon. Once your reputation is reset you can live with us if you want. Richie's been missing his play buddy and Charlotte's been reading a new book that she wants to recommend you." Paul spoke.

{Y-you're not thinking about killing me, are you? I'll tell you anything please don't!}

'Calm down, I don't. probably.' I responded in my head this time. Despite the annoyance of her being in my head, I didn't want to kill her. Although I was sure that I was going to go about it her way anymore.

{That would be less than ideal.}

"Why?" I spoke out loud accidentally.

{Well, getting the System Favour any other way is pretty much impossible.}

"What's she saying?" Paul asked.

"She's saying that if I don't do it her way it would be impossible to get System Favour," I spoke.

"Well.." Paul spoke.

"Wait she's right?" I asked.

"N-not exactly, it'll be slightly harder but I promise to help out any way that I can!" Paul responded.

This was getting confusing.

{AAHH! This is getting annoying, if you won't let me tell you then ask Paul what his secret is! If you know then it makes this all a million times easier!}

I had never seen Samantha with this much emotion before but, I ignored it and decided to listen to her.

"Hey Paul, I didn't let her tell me but, Samantha said that you're hiding a secret from me. What is it?" I asked.

"That's what you were talking to Samantha about earlier then, thanks for respecting my privacy but, sorry newbie I really don't want to tell you." He spoke.

"Does it have something to do with the fact that your level zer- oops." In my curiosity, I had forgotten Charlotte had told me to keep that a secret.

"Dammit Charlotte going and saying something unnecessary like that." He muttered to himself.

An awkward silence filled the room. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I wanted to keep pushing but, I also didn't want to make Paul angry.

I tried to think of anything to say but nothing came to mind. That's when Samantha started yelling,

{I'm annoyed with this! Sorry SIr but, I'm saying it-}

"Samantha don't!" I yelled.

{Paul's secret is-}

"Samantha!" I desperately yelled.

"What's she saying!" Paul spoke panicked.

{Paul used to be the Hero Apollo!}

"What! You used to be Apollo!" I couldn't help but explain.

Paul grumbled angrily before clicking his tongue.

"Damn System Advisor." He spoke.

{That's why you can't get more System Favour from hunting monsters. The System doesn't give out Favour for things that the current heroes and heroes in training have done. It's also why getting your reputation back up wouldn't be effective because most of the things that you could try that way have already been done, the easiest thing that you could do right now to become a hero is drop your reputation and get the most wanted list done. I know it sounds difficult but I promise you if there was an easier way I would have told you!}

My mind was racing with thoughts that I couldn't control or even keep track of for that matter. How could Paul have been Apollo? Is that why he disappeared forty years ago? How is Paul level zero? What is a Hero in training?"

{A hero in training is a hero that has yet to win the tournament of gods}

"Newbie! Listen to me!" Paul spoke his voice bringing me back to reality.

"I didn't want you to find out about this, or at least not now. Please don't tell Richie or Charlotte." Paul spoke.

"They don't know?" I asked shocked.

"If I'm being honest I didn't want anybody to know. I wasn't exactly a stand-up individual back then. Charlotte knows partially but, I haven't been able to tell her fully because I don't want her to know what I was like. Although she might already know, after all, she's pretty perceptive." Paul spoke.

"I-I don't know what to think," I responded stunned.

"Newbie, if I'm being completely honest here, I don't want you to become a Hero," Paul spoke.

"What!" I responded shocked.

He seemed to be lost in thought for a moment before speaking,

"I'm not sure this will help, in fact I worry that it will do the opposite but, let me tell you the truth. All of it. About when I used to be Apollo. Of course, only if you want to hear it. " Paul spoke.

"Absolutely" I spoke.

"Ok, I don't have enough time today but, I'll come by tomorrow and start. If that works with you." Paul spoke with a somber tone.

"T-That's fine," I responded still a little shocked about everything.

"See ya later Newbie," He spoke before leaving.

I just stood there in silence for a few minutes until Samantha broke the silence.

{S-Sir?}

"I'm not sure what to say," I spoke.

{A-are you gonna delete me?}

"No, but I'm annoyed that you told me his secret."

{I'm sorry.}

"Although I can't help but admit that I am a little happy that you told me," I responded.

After that, the conversation died down once again. As we sat there in silence once more. Although this time the silence felt nice.

With that, I decided that I would sleep, after all, tomorrow was a big day.