[Bark!]
Heh... You seemed energetic today.
[Woof!]
Wow. You're acting more like a dog than a wolf.
[Grrr?]
No offense though.
Anyway, you seemed to be in high spirits today. Are you getting antsy for my first transformation?
[Woof!]
Yeah. I'm also nervous, too. I don't know what will happen next after that. But I know this is only the beginning.
[Grr...]
The [Mind Link] feature is a controversial feature even in
[Bark! Bark!]
Yeah, I should get back to "sleep". I just want to see you and if I don't, I will be very guilty.
[Grrrr...]
Yeah, I don't like to leave you alone for too long. This is the downside of being a dog person.
[Bark!]
Anyway, be a good boy while I'm back to reality. See you!
[Woof!]
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[You have turned on [Sleep Mode] for 20 minutes.]
I yawned and stretched my arms as I got up from bed. It's almost midnight and other than hunting practice, I did nothing but train my [Martial Arts] and communicate with my inner wolf in the game. I should be in bed for work tomorrow, but I need one more in-game day. After that, it's a rest day in [Isekai] and back to work with my asshole of a boss.
RIIINNNNGGG!!!
Of course. I know who wants to call me at this time. I pick up my smartphone and answer it.
"And you said I'm supposed to take it easy, Bryan. What do want now?"
"I doubt you're going to be in
I groaned. "Is it Savior again? I thought I made sure I didn't say anything related to my current location."
"Don't worry. It's not related to him this time and BTW, he's still pissed in the game after he scrambled to reorganize his guild, No, you still remembered about those two players who cleared the [Hidden Quest] in
I dryly chuckle. "Another good reason not to go back to civilization. Is that all you can tell me? I can guess that some of Savior's goons are in the mix, too, huh?"
"Yep. But seriously, are you planning to go back to that shitty job again? I can tell you're burning the midnight oil again and I'm worried about your mental health. There's no reason to stay with that asshole for long."
Of course, he had to point that out. "It's half day today and after that, I'm back home doing [Isekai] the rest of the day. You already know my reasons. Until I find another job that fits my current schedule, I can't leave right now."
"Yeah, yeah. I guess I can't convince you otherwise no matter what I said. But don't take this the wrong way. As a friend, I'm worried about your well-being. I won't repeat myself, but be careful, okay?"
I smiled. "I will. Thanks for looking out for me as usual, Bryan."
"No problem. I'll leave you to it tonight. I'll call you later."
I turned it off once he dropped the call. He sounded like a broken record at this point, but I appreciate his concerns. The economy in these times is frustrating and the job hunt in New York is frustratingly difficult this season. Having a miracle would be nice, but only if I can endure more of my boss's unnecessary orders.
But enough about real life, I need to hydrate and get back for the last few hours in the game.
----------------------------------------
I yawned after logging back from [Sleep Mode]. God, I think the pain from hours of training yesterday finally caught up to me. I think I've gone too far with my experiments. At least I still have the energy to move my legs. Although, I felt a bit famished lately. I shouldn't skip meals before bed. I growled in frustration as I stretched my legs from the bed.
Wait, growl? That's not like me. Not only that, I sound like a dog growling. Is it because the full moon is getting closer? I'm guessing I'm not only transforming physically but also mentally due to the [Mind Link]. I'm a bit unsure of what will I become, but all I can do is prepare myself for the worst.
But then, I made a big realization.
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[What will happen to your clothes when you transform?]
I nodded sheepishly after I asked that question to Fenrir once I arrived at the village hall. "To tell you the truth, weapons aren't the only items I can't afford at the moment."
Fenrir hummed. [Obviously, they would rip away. A werewolf wouldn't fit into a [Human's] clothes let alone from an [Insignis]. On the bright side, your pants are always spared, so no need to fret about your birthday suit.]
I chuckle at that inevitable fate. Too bad I will get in trouble if I go nude in this T-rated game.
[But don't worry. We're not going to the shop to buy some clothing this early.]
I widen my eyes. I thought we're gonna do just that. "We're not?"
[Nope. Just follow me and you'll find out.]
Okay? Might as well take his word and follow him for now.
----------------------------------------
As we went inside a small building, my eyes widened and my jaw dropped. Unlike the other buildings in the village, there are two rooms close to each other. One seems to be a forge complete with an anvil and a collection of hammers hanging on the wall and another is covered in curtains. When we entered through the latter, I saw several clothes hanging on the many racks surrounding a sewing machine and two tables filled with sewing equipment.
[Hey,
Mellie, huh? So is she in charge of this room?
[Coming, Fen!]
A woman with bright burning ginger long hair entered the room. While she is wearing the same leather vest and boots made of pelt the villagers were wearing, she is wearing a blue cardigan and white skirt, which seem to match her golden eyes.
[Oh! So that's him, huh?] The woman named Mellie stared at me while walking a bit closer. [Lowry, huh? You look a bit scrawny than what Fenrir described.]
Scrawny?! I don't know if I'm offended or confused by her remark.
[Sorry, it's been a while since we met an [Insignis]. As Fen said, the name's Mellie. I'm the sole seamstress of
New outfit?! Seriously?! And I only mentioned it to Fenrir a few minutes ago.
"Are you sure? I don't know if I can afford a commission right now."
Besides, do NPCs can do a custom item commission?
[Don't be a worrywart, little cub. I heard from Fen that you saved the village from that nasty [Invisible Lion]. Just think of it both as a welcome gift to the fold and a present for all your hard work.] Mellie grabbed something like a measuring tape from the table. [Of course, I don't just need some measurements. I can't make any promises with the current materials I have, but I'll see what I can do. And if you bring some extras, I'll take them as payment instead.]
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Well, talk about generosity. That's something I don't want to take advantage of. Even if she and Fenrir are NPCs, they are too kind to live in this virtual world. Which is another reason why I'm not leaving this village so soon.
Is it stupid for me to care about a fictional village? Yes. Should I care what everyone says? No.
The whole point of this game is to play whatever you want, however you want.
"Alright. I don't want to ignore a present anyway. Plus, I don't want to run naked afterward."
[That's good to hear, kid. Now stand still. I need exact measurements before I can begin.]
I understood what she meant. I tried to stay still so she could measure my body. But I realized something.
"One more question. What happens if I transform again into my new clothes? No offense, but would that defeat the purpose of your gift?"
To my surprise, Mellie chuckled and said, [Just trust me. I assure you that you will get the best outfit fit for a [Lycan] adventurer.]
I'm not sure what she meant, but I'll take her word for it. With that, I raised my arms and let her do the rest.
----------------------------------------
It took a few in-game hours, but I'm finally free from measuring hell. But if it all goes well for the village seamstress, it's worth it.
Afterward, Fenrir and I walked to the village gate together and I began asking him questions.
"I'm curious about Mellie, sir. There's a forge near her shop. Is it possible that she... Uh... You know..."
[Do you mean her wife?]
I widen my eyes at the unexpected revelation. "Her wife?!"
[Yeah. I get that reaction a lot. Outside of her forge, she looked like any petite [Lycan]. But see her fire it up and you can see why they call her the "Fiery Beast Smith" of
As soon as I shook off my shock, I realized what Fenrir meant.
"O-Oh! Oh no. I don't say it in a mean way. I'm surprised there are some same-sex couples in this village."
[Well, they're not the first ones. Are you the same?]
I shook my head. "Not exactly. But I'm a bit indecisive about my sexuality. I do know that I'm not interested in making romantic relationships. Everyone says it's not right. But I rather focus on myself than stress on a forced relationship."
[Hmmm... An aromantic, huh? I get where you came from. But you're right about one thing. Everyone has a right to pursue romance or not. It depends on their preference and it's up to them whether they have a same interest with you. Romance is everything, but you can seek love through other means. Never forget what it means to love and express your emotions.]
I chuckled. "For a village leader, you have some good relationship advice."
Fenrir also chuckled. [You can say I got that from my wife.]
"Hey, you two!"
We turn around and see Lawrence waiting near the gate. He waved at us with a big smile as we walked closer to him.
"I heard from Fenrir that you're gonna hunt solo this time. Are you sure you're gonna be alright after what happened the day before yesterday?"
I nod with a smile. "I rested and trained enough. I think I'm ready to test out what I learned in the field."
[I suggest you should hunt some [Horned Rabbits] and [Wild Boars] not very far from the village. I think you're strong enough to deal with them on your own. Of course, if all goes wrong, Lawrence will be there to protect you from the shadows.]
"That's right!" Lawrence flashed a thumbs-up to me. "I'll make sure that no [Invisible Lion] will disrupt your hunting session."
I don't know if it's possible, but I appreciate the gesture. "Thank you, Lawrence. Well, we're off!"
[Stay safe, you two.]
With a nod of assurance to Fenrir, we head out of the village to start my first solo hunt since the mark. It's only a walk away as I recalled from the hunting practice and with my enhanced endurance from my [Physical Enhancement], I have no issues of exhausting myself too early.
"So, Lowry..." Lawrence suddenly spoke up. "I don't mean to pry into your real-life privacy, but what do you do on the weekends? From what I know about you so far, you're not the type to play [Isekai] all day."
I know there is a "stranger danger" rule on the internet, but it doesn't hurt to tell him. Besides, I'm already dreading it for later.
"Part-time work if I'm not busy with my projects. Although I'm thinking about resigning there."
As expected, Lawrence's eyes widened once I answered his question. "Resign? Did something happen in your workplace recently?"
"More like every day. I had a boss who only cared about himself and some female part-timers. Not only that, he often threw too much work on my plate and most of the time, I work during the holidays and school projects!" I growled in frustration, not knowing until too late that I was acting like a real wolf. "I swear, that asshole has the gall to harass me to work until I'm reduced into a raisin!"
"Wow. I heard of bad bosses on TV, but that takes the cake. But why didn't you quit early? You should have done so if you noticed that type of workplace abuse."
I sighed as I briefly calmed down. "That's the thing. Finding another job in New York sucks and if I don't get a stable income at the end of the year, I'm doomed to live homeless. You know how much rent I can only afford with my current budget. And don't get me started on my college tuition fees."
After telling him all of that, I noticed that we were getting closer to our destination. It's not like my problems will be solved by venting them to someone else.
"Then how about working for me?"
I stopped walking once I heard that sudden offer. "Excuse me?!"
"You said you lived in New York, right? It just so happens that I'm looking for extra help in my café. Of course, I won't tell you full details due to rules and laws. If you lend me your Discourse name, I'll tell you more if you're interested."
I almost choke at this. This is a huge coincidence to learn that Lawrence is a café manager in real life, but I never expected him to offer me a job so suddenly.
"I-I appreciate your offer, but..."
"Ah! No need to say it. I feel like I was a bit too direct on my offer. I apologize for that. So how about this?"
I watched him open up his menu and a few seconds later, I saw a new ping that I got a new PM from him.
"I gave you my Discourse name instead. Again, if you're interested, just let me know there."
I'm still having mixed feelings about this. But I appreciate the second method. At least he cleared up some misunderstandings before I can make some bad assumptions about his RL life.
"I'll try. Thanks anyway."
----------------------------------------
Eventually, we reached the clearing and I equipped the weapon Fenrir lent me before our visit with the village seamstress.
[Wool Bandage]
[A roll of bandage made of wool. While it's not a good alternative for a gauntlet, it protects your fist from the recoil of your punches.
Effects: +9 ATK
Quality: 7]
Fenrir wasn't kidding about this gauntlet. Then again, it could be worse.
"Alright. I will be observing you from afar as per our agreement. If you need help, just give me a holler at the whisper chat," Lawrence said as he was about to leave.
"I'll keep that in mind, sir. I'll be in touch."
We exchanged nods of silent agreement afterward as I let him go to do his in-game job. With Lawrence patrolling around for any high-level monsters, I have no worries about being ambushed by another [Invisible Lion] again. All that's left now is to begin the hunt in earnest.
Looking around the clearing from behind a bush, I can see 2 [Wild Boars] roaming around the area. So far, they haven't noticed my presence yet, so that's good news. The only issue is that I'm now fighting alone. So that means I can't replicate the plan from the hunting practice with Claw, Christa, and Kai. On the other hand, I don't have the disadvantage of having low [Weapon Mastery] due to lack of training. The question now is how should I use them properly. I'm using a [Mastery] I have never seen in practice on video and I only have a limited amount of skills available, so I can't take full advantage of its combo feature.
For now, I cast [Gift of Strength] on myself first and try to find an opening. I can't take on two [Wild Boars] at the same time, so I might as well isolate them first.
“Spirits of flames, show yourselves! Erect the shield of flames to deter my enemies! [Fire Wall]!”
With a flick of my wrist, I erect the wall between the boars. That way, the boar won't even dare to approach me while I'm dealing with another. With that, I can start the hunt in earnest.
“Spirits of flames, show yourselves! Bring the fire from my heart and help me gather it into my hand! [Fire Ball]!"
As if I'm throwing a baseball for the win, I threw the [Fire Ball] to the back of the first [Wild Boar]. As expected, it's enough to agitate him to draw out its aggro towards me. But rather than luring it away, I got out of the bush and stood my ground. While I can't use the full capabilities of [Martial Arts] yet, I did earn a skill that is perfect for a beginner like me. I let the boar charge closer and closer to me. Once it did, I smirked and assumed my position.
"[Power Attack]!"
I punched the boar's snout with most of my strength and to my surprise, it flew away and hit the tree behind it. I can't believe it... I know it's not high enough to fly off like a rocket, but I didn't expect how my [Physical Enhancement] could increase my [STR] tenfold. Not only that, I managed to chip off about 15% of its [HP] with just one skill alone. If that's enough to make me realize my abilities as a [Lycan], I don't know what does.
[SQQQUUUEEEELLLL!!!]
Well, I didn't say I kill it in one blow, so I better finish this up before the [Fire Wall] is gone. Still, I can't help but smile at my new achievement. Hell, I feel like my excitement is heating up at the thought of fighting the [Wild Boars]. It's like I'm excited to kill these suckers.
Damn... What am I thinking?! Why am I starting to like killing monsters like it's a game?! (Okay... It is a video game, but still...)
Then again, there's a time and place to resist these strange urgings. I need to take care of them right now before they can turn me into a crash dummy. I can tell from their eyes that they are ready to kill me. That's something that makes me pump up, so why not stop? I ready my fists as I grin at my new opponents.
"Bring it, you pigs."
----------------------------------------
[Lowry's Masteries]
[Martial Arts] Level 5
[Fire] Level 5
[Life] Level 6
[Physical Enhancement] Level 2
[Magical Affinity] Level 5
[Alchemy] Level 8
[Scribe] Level 7
[Magecrafting] Level 1
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[2 days until the full moon...]