Authors' Note: Thank You Simple Magi.
Second Note: I'm so sorry for the delay. I've had to deal with a bit of stuff on my side, that I don't wish to talk about, but also, I tried to get two characters in this story, but couldn't find the right Segway, so enjoy this as I work on the next character for the story.
P.S. There will be a bit of a preview at the end of this chapter.
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"If you have to sneak to do it, lie to cover it up…then you probably shouldn't be doing it."
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Running within the forest just outside of the Town of Tolbana, Tanuki, quickly and effortlessly, took out a dire wolf with merely a dagger. Breathing out a sigh of relief, the young man looked at his level and noticed it was at 20. Satisfied with the result, he began to run around a little more before calling it a day.
As he ran, Tanuki, with not a care in the world, nearly failed to realize the blade that popped up in his view. Reacting as quickly as he could, Tanuki moved over to his left, with the end result being him losing his right arm. Feeling the pain, of his arm being removed, the young man rolled onto the ground and slammed into a tree. Trying to get up quickly, another blade came into view and was held by the side of his neck.
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"Man, you sure do move fast." A voice spoke as the blade that severed Tanuki's arm lowered and showed the man. "But it would seem you don't have any quick reactions to go with it."
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The other man who kept Tanuki in place with his blade chuckled a little. This angered the young man a bit, but Tanuki knew better than to do something reckless. Then, as the man continued his approach, he crouched down, to look at the dull, black-colored hair man who knelt in front of him.
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"My info tells me you are a beta tester, no?" The man asked to which Tanuki replied by nodding his head. "And you helped make this book, no?" The man asked again, and once again Tanuki nodded his head as he saw the survival pamphlet held in the man's hand. "Do you know anyone else who helped make this book?"
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Looking back at the man who still held the blade, Tanuki knew deep down if he gave the wrong answer his head would go flying without question. So, he nodded in confirmation.
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"So, who are the others?" The man asked. Tanuki kept silent. "Is this some honor bound you have with other beta testers we normal people wouldn't understand?" Tanuki shook his head. "No? Then why can't you talk?"
"I…don't like talking." Tanuki answered as he opened his mouth and whispered.
"Oh, so you're the quiet type of player." Looking down at the young man as he stood up, he noticed Tanuki's arm restore itself. "He has a quick recovery factor, he must've leveled up pretty quickly in order to heal this fast." The man thought to himself. "Tell you what, you work for me, and I'll let you live. How about it, sound fair?" Tanuki looked up at the man from underneath his cloak in shock.
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It hadn't been long since the 2nd Floor had opened, and the new term for beta testers "Beaters" went around. And the fact that a dozen or so people had gone missing with no information on them whatsoever, only made the situation more dire. But, Tanuki had major confidence in his information gathering, and seeing the man before him made the gears in his head turn.
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"If my info is right, then these men might be…" Looking slightly up, and over his shoulder, Tanuki looked over at the man who still held the blade to his neck and noticed what made his theory confirmed.
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An orange cursor floated above the man's head, as he continued to stare down at Tanuki. Gritting his teeth, Tanuki looked forward slowly so as to not startled the man who stood behind him and looked up at the man before him to see the same orange cursor floating above the man's head as well.
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"No doubt. They're player killers." Tanuki thought to himself as he continued to look towards the ground. "My death would mean nothing to them. And I'll just be another dead body that no one will search for." Making up his mind, and hardening his resolve, Tanuki spoke out once more. "I have a proposal."
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His words caught the attention of the two men.
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"Go on." The man standing before Tanuki replied.
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2 Weeks Later…
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Nothing of sorts happened during these two weeks, except for the fact that Tanuki joined the two men who wanted to kill him, showed them around where the best spots to grind were, since most of the players moved onto Floor 2.
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"Incredible. To think we leveled up so quickly." The leader of the group answered as he looked at his level and noticed it at Lv. 15
"Since people have moved up to the 2nd Floor I though it be best to have you level up as quickly as possible, before taking on the 2nd Floor." Tanuki answered.
"Speaking of the 2nd Floor, I have a request for you men." A voice spoke up, causing the 2 men to react by pulling out their swords, but Tanuki raised his arm to stop them.
"What is that you want, Rat?" Tanuki spoke, knowing full well who it was.
"Oh, if it isn't Tanuki. How's it goin?" Argo asked as she emerged from behind one of the trees. "I just have a little request, could one of you go to the 2nd Floor and take a request from another player."
"Why not just tell us what the request is?" The leader spoke up after hearing Argo out.
"That's the thing, I was only paid to find you, not tell you." Argo answered as she waved herself away. "See ya. You'll find him at the café in Urbus." And with that Argo was gone.
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A few days later…
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Waiting at the designated spot to meet up with the client that called to them through Argo, Tanuki sighed after remembering his talk with his leader.
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"Whoever they are, charge them whatever you want, but if its someone you know, do what you want." Was all the leader said.
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Hearing laughter just in front of him, he noticed three people speaking to each other. Two women and one man, but as it began to register who the man was, the man stood up and began walking towards Tanuki.
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"That's…" As Shirou sat in front of Tanuki, Tanuki pulled his bandana a bit over his face.
"You think you could find the Iron Giant?" Shirou asked to which Tanuki nodded. "How much?"
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Raising a couple of fingers, those fingers made Shirou flinch.
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"He probably won't be able to pay that much." Tanuki said to himself, smiling under his bandana. "He'll probably give up, then I can just…" Then hearing the menu being opened, Tanuki looked at his screen to see all the money in his account.
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More shocked at the fact that Shirou paid the fee in full, rather than in payments, caused Tanuki to freeze. Not sure as to what to do next, Tanuki accepted the money, stood up, and rushed out of the city and headed back to floor one.
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"Seriously, just who is he?!" Tanuki thought to himself as he bit down on his teeth in embarrassment and anger.
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Preview…
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Running around, as two other players held back a forest elf in a pale green vest, Ember rushed up to try and grab an important item for her current quest.
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"Watch out!" A boy of black-blue hair yelled out as he pushed Ember out of the way of what looked to be giant claws coming down from the sky.
"Poor, poor humans." The forest elf spoke, while chuckling at the sight of Shirou bleeding from his right shoulder, due to the falcon's claw. "Always weak to attacks from above." Seeing them use a blue crystal, the elf noticed Shirou's arm heal instantaneously.
"How dare you play such low tricks?!" A dark elven woman of lilac hair and onyx-black eyes, wearing a black and purple colored armor underneath a dark black cloak yelled out in disgust as she noticed the forest elf chuckling psychotically. As she rushed forth, her blade clashed with the forest elf's. Their movements, quick and precise, until at one moment their blades locked with each other.