Author Notes: Sorry it took longer than usual, guys. Finals pretty much suck and they have to come before writing. D; I also was having an internal struggle over how to phrase this entire chapter. I saw it clearly in my mind, but trying to describe it in words is quite difficult. xD Next chapter will actually be a bonus chapter, so it will be listed as Chapter 4.1 (And it will be coming out the same day as this as well.). Hope you guys enjoy!
Ughh... Was the first thought I had after regaining consciousnesses. She could have warned me she was going to just drop me into nothing, instead of grinning like a moron. I pulled my head up, spitting the dirt out of my mouth since I landed face first. I sat myself up, and took in my new surroundings. There were already quite a few people milling about the town that I was in, all of them some type of elf. I guess this is the elf starting village. Some individuals noticed me sitting there in the middle of the road, and had confused expressions on their face. One of them was a woman, and while she did look like she was perplexed, there was also a certain kind of... Hunger in her eyes. I got a bad feeling about this... I instinctively got up and ran to the nearest building, slamming the door behind me.
I rested my back against the door, and looked at where I had entered. It was a simple general store, with a NPC glaring daggers at me from behind his counter. All the sudden there was a strong push against the door, but not strong enough to force it open against the pressure I was putting on it. I realized that I shouldn't be standing in front of the door, and opened the door slightly. I was greeted with at least five girls staring at me with that same hungered expression from earlier. I slammed the door back closed, and braced myself in against it. What do they want with me!?
"Hey, those are potential customers out there! How can I make a living if you are keeping them out of my shop!?" The NPC man yelled at me, shaking his fist in the air.
"Your 'potential customers' are trying to gang up on me! I do not feel like dying in the game this early!" I snapped back at him, returning his glare.
"You're just like that fellow Prince when he first came in here, causing a ruckus! Now get out of my shop before I alert the guards!" The NPC huffed, a large frown on his face. There's that guy, again! I guess his name is actually 'Prince', what an unoriginal name. Just as I was to resign myself to the fate of what felt like a growing number of women, I saw a hand pop out from the hallway next to counter, gesturing me to come towards it. I prepared myself mentally, and broke out in a sprint to the hallway, towards the door that the hand was coming from. I dived into the room, as the door clicked shut behind me. I heard a chorus of women go, "Where did he go!?" as I let out a breath of relief. Too close.
It only occurred to me that I may have just fallen into some sort of trap when I heard the door lock as well. It seemed to be confirmed when the lone figure in the room stepped out of the shadows to reveal a very pretty girl with long, blonde hair. She smiled sweetly at me, and offered her hand. I figured it was too late for me, and took her hand. She pulled me up, and ran her eyes around me. Her eyes didn't show that hungering expression though, instead it was if she knew something I didn't. "We better go through the back door, don't want them figuring out you're back here, right?" She said in a melodious voice. All I could do was nodded, and followed her.
"May I ask who you are?" I asked as we went through a door that lead outside to the fields surrounding the little village. We were walking on a small dirt pathway, which was going uphill.
"My name is Ice Phoenix! And the man just up ahead waiting for us is my husband, Nan Gong Zui." She said, walking along the pathway. Sure enough, as we reached the top of the little hill was a man waiting about half a mile down. When we reached him, he greeted his wife with a hug and looked at me. He carried a similar expression to Ice Phoenix moments ago, as if he saw something that I couldn't see!
"As I am sure my wife has told you, my name is Nan Gong Zui. And you are...?" The man in armor asked.
"I am Yi Min." I replied. I gave Prince crap for being unoriginal, while I sound like a narcissist*...
Both Nan Gong Zui and Ice Phoenix had an amused smile on their face, which was a better response to my name than them thinking I was arrogant. How was I to know that character creator lady couldn't tell I was talking to myself? Now that I'm thinking clearly, what does this couple want with me? Surely Ice Phoenix was not hanging around in a backroom for kicks and giggles. "Thank you for saving me, but may I ask why?"
"We heard there was a commotion going on in this village, so his Majesty sent us down here to investigate. That's when we found you being chased, so we figured it was best for you and the village that we got you out of there." Nan Gong Zui replied.
"His Majesty? This wouldn't happen to be Prince, would it?" I asked, now quite glad I met these two. They have connections to Prince!
Nan Gong Zui looked like he had swallowed a lemon. "Yes, his Majesty is Prince. He is the Lord of the Central Continent and Infinite City, which is at the center of the continent. I am one of his generals."
"Really? So that means you could take me to meet him, right?" I asked, hoping that maybe they could. This would make this quest about ten times shorter!
"Technically we could, but we will not. His Majesty is a very busy man, and only those that earn the right to be in his presence actually get the chance to enter the castle, let alone an audience with him. You will have to somehow attract his interest, only then can you meet him." Nan Gong Zui said.
Damn, not like I wasn't expecting that. But I was still hoping for it. From what I gathered, it seems I can't really go back to the village to get my class change because it's going to be too much trouble. I'm sure the cities have those same types of NPCs, though. Maybe I can use this to my advantage...
"Nan Gong Zui, once again I thank you for saving me. But I fear that now I cannot enter the village without being attacked. Would you mind if I accompany you to Infinite City? I know I am only a level one, but I will do my best not to hinder you. If I die during the travel, then carry on without me!"
Nan Gong Zui and Ice Phoenix looked at each other with conflicted expressions, then back to me. "I suppose it is the least we can do. We have no other assignments outside of reporting back to the castle, after all."
As we traveled, I made sure to level up along the way. I would run ahead of Nan Gong Zui and Ice Phoenix and kill the newbie monsters. I didn't really enjoy killing the monsters, but I enjoyed the part of winning against them. I'm a pretty competitive guy, as long as I win in some aspect or form I'm happy, even if it involves the opponent's death. When death was imminent for my opponent though, like in this case, I tried to make it as painless and swift as possible. Pretty soon I was the level required to have a class change, and we weren't even a quarter of the way there yet!
"You seem quite talented with the blade, young man. You killed those monsters in two hits or less." Nan Gong Zui said, impressed.
"It's nothing, really. All you need to know is the weak points of the monsters, as well as calculating how much needs to be applied to said weak points to achieve a critical hit. It makes things clean, simple and painless for both parties. I hate the idea of spilling blood unnecessarily." I replied.
Nan Gong Zui burst out laughing at my last sentence, threatening to hit the floor from how strong his laughter was. Ice Phoenix prevented this by holding on to him, though she seemed like she was controlling herself from laughing. "I-I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Nan Gong Zui was finally regaining his composure a bit. "It is just hearing that is something I am not used to at all. Especially from a warrior!"
What bizarre people. I thought, feeling a slight blush on my face. Is it really that odd for a warrior to want to finish things with as little trouble as possible? The rest of the trip went smoothly, and quietly. There was some small talk here and there, such as what Infinite City looked like or where particular places were in Infinite City. But nothing too important. When we got to the city square, Nan Gong Zui pointed me in the direction of NPC for the warrior class, and we all parted. I couldn't help but stand still and watch them walk towards the formidable fortress that was Infinite Castle.
Somewhere in there is Prince, the holder of my answers. But I can only reach him if I can prove myself in some way or form. I turned in the direction that Nan Gong Zui said I needed to go, my back facing the castle. "I'll see you soon, Prince."
* According to the internet, Yi Min means "Smart".
