Opening my eyes early in the morning, I saw the ceiling that didn't belong to any room of the house that I lived for the last twenty-two years, and my eyebrows furrowed. Why—that's right… I am trapped in a VR game. I let out a sigh before putting my right forearm on my forehead and closing my eyes.

A few minutes of complete silence passed and I slowly opened my eyes for the second time. Nothing ever gets accomplished by just lying on the bed. If I want to leave this VR game, I have to somehow get kicked out... Somehow… Moving my right forearm from my forehead, I got up from the bed and walked up to the door.

Leaving the room and navigating the house's corridors, I reached the door that led outside, but then it suddenly opened.

Through it came a middle-aged man with short black hair. He wore tight blue pants, white shirt, blue jacket with an insignia of the tiger's head which was the coat of arms of the tiger country on the top right corner, and a sword sheathed on the right side of his waist.

He frowned. "Who are you? Why are you in my father's house?" he said as he moved his right hand to his sword's hilt.

Above this man’s head, I saw his level, name and health bar.

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<<350/350>>

This man is that old man's son? Regardless of that, from his clothes and the insignia on his jacket, it's safe to assume that he is a guard of some city here in the tiger country. If I don't answer him quick, he will pull his sword on me.

"My name is Astrid,” I said. “I gave a hand to your father, and as payment, he offered me to stay the night."

His eyebrows furrowed. "You helped my father and he let you stay the night?" he said with doubt in his voice.

I nodded my head in confirmation. "Yes. He asked me to kill the wolves that left the forest."

Rick's eyes widened and mouth slightly opened. "You killed the wolves?" he said as he moved his right hand away from his sword's hilt.

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"Yes I did."

"I see—" Before he could finish his words, an old man's voice sounded behind me, "Son."

Rick and I turned towards the voice and we both saw the old man, standing not too far from us with a broad smile on his old face.

"Dad…" Rick said.

So they really are father and son.

Rick walked past me, approaching his father and the old man walked towards him, approaching his son. They enveloped each other in a hug.

"Long time no see, dad," the middle-aged man said.

"Yeah, long time no see, Rick," the old man said immediately after.

They hugged for an entire minute before separating.

"I came as fast as I could," Rick glanced at me with his right eye and shook his head. “But it seems, I was not fast enough."

The old man nodded his head. "Yes, the adventurer has already helped me." He looked at me. "Tonight was the first night in many years since I didn't hear a single howl. I believe that there is not a single wolf remaining."

Rick faced me and I saw a dumbfounded expression on his somewhat handsome face. "You killed all the wolves?!"

"I did," I replied and turned my eyes to the old man. "Thank you for yesterday's dinner, and for letting me spend the night, but I should be going on my way."

The old man shook his head. "It's fine, it's fine, but before you go at least eat breakfast with us."

I raised the corners of my lips, smiling lightly. "Thank you."

"Now that's rare," Rick mumbled and we all walked into the kitchen. Rick and I sat down at the table facing each other, while the old man started preparing the breakfast.

"I don't believe I introduced myself. My name is Rick."

"Nice to meet you, Rick. My name is Astrid."

"Nice to meet you too, Astrid."

"Astrid, will you go to a forest with me?"

I crossed my arms, tilted my head slightly to the right and said, "You want my help in finding out what drove the wolves away?

"I should just focus on the food," I heard the old man mumble and glanced at him. I saw his back and nothing more.

Rick nodded his head. "Yes, you showed that you are capable enough. So what do you say? Will you help me?"

I have no reason to refuse. Nodding my head, I said, "Alright."

A few notification messages flashed in front of me.

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…

After eating the breakfast that was prepared by the old man, Rick and I left for the forest.

Walking towards it, we didn't encounter anything we had to fight, and reaching it, Rick said, "All the wolves are really dead, aren't they…"

"They are,” I said. “Let's go into the forest."

Rick nodded his head and we walked into the forest. But once we entered it, a notification message flashed in front of me.

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A dungeon? I thought as I narrowed my eyes.

"What's wrong, Astrid?"

"It's nothing,” I said. “Let's go."

Rick nodded his head. “Alright. Let’s go.”