"Selena, you shine brighter than those angels outside."
The potions burn my pocket, so the sooner she takes them the better.
Let's hope the lame compliment distracts her, and she won't notice the odd item in the batch or the shaking legs.
"It's crazy what happened."
"Ah, the thugs? Who did they get?" So she's aware? She doesn't seem concerned, though ganking might be common here. She's all heart otherwise.
"I keep telling the folks not to flaunt their wealth to the poor, and they never learn. How are your errands?"
"All done, and brought some potions too." Why does my stomach cramp so bad?
Oh God, and she stops me, did she figure it out? The compliment didn't affect her, I knew they were lame.
Will it be the end of this adventurer career? It was stupid to steal in a game the feds sent me.
"First things first. You killed the rats in the infested houses and delivered the flowers to the Pharmacy, right?"
She takes the parchments and the system confirms the experience as she pays.
"Now, would you bring me some potions from them again?" She offers the task with a wink.
If she's an NPC, she has to be self-aware, and messing with the system on purpose.
She had to give out the mission before the items got delivered, what a fucking tease.
Too bad she's older, and, well, not real. She could at least adopt me if she were.
What kind of relationship does she have with Tank?
They must know each other when they have more personality than the other NPCs combined.
Heck. When it comes to these gankers, even more than some players.
"Right, of course, anything for you, Selena."
A huge boulder is off my chest when she hands over the contract, taking the potions, and finishing it in one go.
This is an extra three coppers and fifty Exp, and now the first round is over. One level closer to the goal.
[Government Issued Quest: Reach Level 10 within 3 days. Importance: Utmost. Difficulty: Average. Progress: 5/10, Exp to next level: 363/1600. (41/72 hours left).]
"Did you bring something else too?"
Can she see into the inventory? She seems surprised when all the bones and crystals are on the table.
The rat tail follows them too, for good measure, in case it's useful for something.
"That's quite the haul."
"Ugh, don't even get me started. The archers almost broke this sword, and only got their arrows."
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
It feels nice to complain, and she's all ears.
"Next I see them, it's better to turn around and look for something else. The zombies were easy, and the rats, well, boring."
"Yes, adventurers won't bother with them once they can take better offers. And we're drowning in rats, so you're helping a great deal, Noob."
Her praise makes me blush, even if it's your average secretary-talk.
"It's a pleasure doing business with you."
With that, my fortune grows enough to buy a single potion, with two already in the inventory.
And it's not even worth grabbing them during a robbery, haha. How many jobs did it take to afford one at a discount?
Well, it's still better to think about keeping stuff safe.
"Can you give some hints on where to put the valuables? It's not like I have things worth stealing, but it would suck to end up like that guy."
This makes her smile and she shakes her head, glancing behind my back before answering.
"Always assume that everyone's after your stuff, Noob, so never let them learn where you keep it. This includes me, and everyone else in this building."
A subtle wave follows her wink. Yeah, the hall is much busier than when Tank sent me here.
"I can only help with money."
"T-that is better than nothing."
Now that she mentions it, a few red-named players are inside the guild.
At least one of them always keeps his eyes on me, or anyone taking or finishing contracts.
"So it's like a bank right? You safe-keep the money?"
"Yes, and you can access it with your adventurer card at any other Guild office."
It's handy, considering money has weight too, and a character can only carry so much.
"This has a fee though, unless you reach a higher rank. It's one gold a week, subtracted from your balance."
Yeah. This is for someone with real money, not a few pennies. And the coins are easier to hide than all the useless loot.
Damn it, even if they take them, there would be a fee too high for the current balance, so get on with the tasks instead.
"Is there a way to learn magic? Or anything that has an area of effect, like a fireball?" This question has her raise an eyebrow too, so it's better to explain.
"The rats are so weak, even a stronger wind could kill them. But there are so many."
"Ah, like wiping them out with a grenade or a spell?" The way she shakes her head can't mean anything good.
"There are, but they would cost more than they're worth dead. And think about collateral damage. Magic is in a higher demand than to waste on rodents."
"Is it possible to learn magic though? Are there some requirements, or is it available for everyone?"
It's better to ask it this way, than saying that my time is more valuable than wasting it on rats.
And the government quest won't wait for the tiny trickle of Exp either.
"Everyone can learn a few basic spells, like this."
Her index finger lights up like a candle. She didn't even chant, that's a neat party trick.
"It takes practice, and we'd be no match for a real wizard, but the knowledge is out there, and accessible."
"Oh, so where should I start?" The hope has one second to live before she shoots it down again.
"You'd have to buy a spellbook for five hundred gold and hire an expensive tutor. Geniuses could learn alone in the library, which would be one gold piece a week, though it will take longer."
Of course, it has something to do with money.
At least it's not about Premium, - only in-game currency, gold coins, and quite a few.
"Talented wizards get all that for free."
She can be so ruthless. So that's how they justify the classes, you pick one and gain their talent.
And when you reach that point, you shouldn't bother with rat infestations anymore.
Okay, which spawn points next, to bully some zombies instead?
"Can you give a few jobs in this area next?"
The map proves its value again, and she finds the correct errands immediately.
It's three F-rank ratting jobs without the extra trip to the Pharmacy, and two spawn points nearby. There are two more on the way back.
"If you see people wave at you in front of their homes, they might ask for help too. Most basements are full of rats in that part of the village, and they count towards your adventurer rank."
Her hint answers an earlier rhetorical question. She sure is an angel.
So villagers will spawn even if you don't take their offers from the Guild?
That way you can get around the limit, and they might give higher-level missions too. Yey, more ratting.