The bell jingled inside the smith's shop, as Neptune strolled in. It has been two days since she was told to stay still and rest, which sucked because she was extremely bored to death. Another thing was that Gira had told her that she didn't steal the monster's heart that was supposed to be in her possession, because it was in her possession.

It had disintegrated, was what Gira told her, which she then checked her storage skill if it really was in there. And voila, it really was, and she had regretted her that she checked on it. Who would want a slimy, thumping, heart on their hand? But Neptune does wonder how it was still beating. Anyways, Neptune learned that weapons in her possession would vanish within a certain distance, but it does not go with non-weapons, as they are stored by will. Not wanting to store something gross, Neptune placed the heart in a cloth, which she then clipped on her hip.

"Ah, the rookie," Neptune looked up and saw the smith with a grin on his face. "You got what I asked for?" The purple haired girl removed the covered heart on her hip and placed in on the table nearby.

The smith gave her a confused look. It doesn't look like the ten hearts he asked for, but when he opened the sack, his eyes widened.

"Y-You...YOU!" Neptune tilted her head to the side, she noticed him clutching the sack on. "You son of a bitch, you did it..." He whispered. "Welp, Mister smith, it's not those ten hearts you asked for but I got you this piece of baby right here, which I don't know if it's much better." The smith didn't utter a word, but instead grinned instead.

"So I'm guessing it's no good?" Neptune asked, deflated. Well he did ordered ten hearts, which she didn't have by the way. The smith sealed the content on the bag and gestured Neptune to follow him.

The smith led the purple haired girl into a corner, an area which contained armors hanging by the wall. Heavy looking armors, along with those light armor, were lined impeccably near the wall, chain mails were laid in a certain corner, where some jewelry, mostly bracelets, were found. Metal and leather bracers were lined on a table, some trousers are folded beside them while the fancy looking ones were perched up along with the heavy armors.

"Take your pick." The smith said. "Wait, are you serious?"

"Serious as I'll ever be, but we did agree on only taking the cheap ones so you only get to take the cheap ones." Neptune nodded excitedly, dashing to where the heavy looking armors were, purple eyes examined them zealously. There were variety of armors, some had incredible number of spikes on them, which she had crossed out of her list since it might actually accidentally kill her, others were adorned with crappy color combinations, and some were overly exaggerated and...well...crappy...

'Wasn't expecting...this...' Neptune's previous excitement slowly distinguished in her eyes, she shook her head and pointed at an armor that wasn't that sucky looking. "How much is this?"

"1,500 credits." Purple eyes widened, and moved her gaze towards the armor. This piece of thing?! 1,500 credits?! But it looked so, ragged and...well... tattered.

"Oh... uhhh... how about this one?" Neptune asked pointing at the only chain mail hanging on the wall. "Girl, I told you to pick something cheap. That's 3,000 credits."

"Are you serious?! That's literally just a chain mail."

"You know what the ingredients are for that? Adamantite and Leanbox's finest diamond quartz." The purple haired character groaned, of course something so simple looking contain such amazing materials.

Neptune shook her head and moved to where the bracers are lined. There were a lot of fine looking bracers, and they probably aren't any cheaper. She shrugged and just took the really, really cheap looking ones. It was thin dark brown leather bracers with dirty white fur at the end, that looked like it had nothing to protect, lined with a really small ornament and screws that were there to hold everything together.

The smith nodded. "That's one hundred and fifty credits." Neptune stared at it for a while before sighing. "I'll take it..." The smith nodded, before crossing his arms.

"You do know you could take on quests for extra credits right?"

"I know, but I can't seem to find the notice board." Neptune said with a sigh. "Aren't you staying in that tavern not too far from here?" She nodded. "They call it a guild house, but yeah I do."

"Then you haven't noticed the notice board just beside the counter?" The purple eyed girl paused and looked at the smith. " Wait, seriously? Have you been there?"

"How could I not? I'm practically born in this kingdom, so going to taverns would be the inevitable for me. Besides, you gotta admit the bastard's granddaughter is a feast for the eyes." He said in a lecherous manner. "Compa?" Neptune said, looking at the man in front of her suspiciously. "You're quite the pervert, mister."

The smith shook his head and wave his hands in front of him. "By the Gods, I would never lay a hand on that maiden, I'm much of a gentleman for that." The purple eyed girl stared at him. "I swear, sure she's got nice tits and all for her age, but that doesn't change a fact that she's a child." He said. "But you said she's a feast for the eyes."

"Yes, that is also a fact, but that's where I draw the line to myself." Neptune stared at him for a few more seconds before humming to herself. "I think I'll go check out that notice board, and once I have a decent amount of money, I'll come back here." The smith nodded, then sudden realization dawned upon him. "Hey, aren't you forgetting something?"

Neptune tilted her head in confusion. The smith gestured her to follow him and she did, he led her to where the weapons lay and Neptune had remembered. "A promise is a promise, a discount on all the weapon you want."

"But I didn't get what you're asking."

"A distorted goo's heart is way more valuable than all those hearts I've asked. Now, don't be modest before I change my mind."

...

Neptune had found herself back to the forest, but now she was wearing her newly bought bracers and boots, which was similar to the bracers she was wearing with fur on the end, only costing her like 250 credits and the simple black katana she bought for 600 credits instead of 1,360 credits, which made her quite happy. Not like she's complaining, well...she is, but only just a little. It can't be helped, not wanting to spend all her credits as she spent the remaining to buy healing grass, in case she ever run to problems.

She shook her head, anyways, she wondered how these armor increased her defense. "Status."

Neptune

Level: 6

Class: ?

Race:?

Skills: Appraisal lvl 5 (passive), Quick Step lvl 5 (passive), Quick Evade lvl 4 (passive), Pin point lvl 1 (active), Cross Combination (active), Corrosive resistance+, Fatigue resistance+, Storage, PRIDE lvl 1 (active/passive)

AG: 16 STR: 20 INT: 12 DEX: 22 DEF: 18 LUK: 6 MP: 4

Neptune stared at her stats, particularly the DEF part, and she swore she felt her eye twitch. It only increased three points? Are you serious? The purple eyed character for a deep breath to calm herself.

Oh well...

It can't be helped, it's better than not having anything at all.

The purple haired character unfolded the quest information, reading it's content. After going to the smith, Neptune had immediately went back to the guild and looked for the infamous notice board, which was, true to the smith's words, beside the counter. There were a lot of request, from gathering herbs for an alchemist, watching over a store for three days, eradicating ten goos, purging a ghost, etc. The notice board in the tavern was loaded with quest, so much so that Neptune had nearly gather a handful.

Thankfully for her common sense, she only accepted one instead of five.

It was a simple quest, eradicate the bear in the Virtua forest and obtain two of it's fangs. It was a level four quest, which she hopefully would have no trouble completing, and besides for it's reward is quite satisfying, 500 credits is quite a feat.

"Ooooo." The sound of the slime monster brought Neptune back to reality. She cast her gaze downward, where a goo was located. It looked small and it was probably just a new born, but what got her attention was the dull glow located at the top of it's head. She stomped on it, knowing full well it wouldn't drop something.

The slime splattered underneath her heel, and the sight caused Neptune to frown before walking away and deeper into the forest. In her expedition, Neptune had discovered she was able to craft her own potion, thanks to her appraisal skill. At level 4, appraisal starts to tell you what an object and herbs' effects were, making it easier for the user to know what should or should not be touched or digested.

It is extremely useful, and this is the only time Neptune had actually used it. Well, it can't be helped.

Not long after, she encountered the quest target, a bear monster called the 'Kuma' which literally means bear. It was a level four, two levels under her, it looked like a regular bear. What separates it from a normal one, was that this was slightly bigger and it's canine were sticking out of it's mouth, like a saber-tooth. It's paws were also a distinction, it was way bigger than those of the normal ones, and the claws it has were way sharper.

easily towering Neptune, it raised a paw and brought it down, in hopes of hitting her, but she parried with her sword and slashed it belly, causing it to wail in pain as itself with it's arms.

It gave a mighty roar before dashing towards her, claws up and ready, teeth bared intent on mauling her over. Neptune dodged to the right and dodged again backwards, greatly missing the claws that was aimed at her face.

Neptune deflect again, the weight of the katana becoming more and more familiar to her hand. She jumped when the angered bear swiped it's arms down, Neptune used it's arms to jump a little higher, she raised the sword overhead and brought it down.

Straight to it's head, the force caused the blade to cut until it reached the bear's belly, blood splattering, innards spilling from the cut she made, then it fell to the ground.

Neptune stared with wide eyes, not prepared to what she just did. She felt dizzy, and her hands were shaking. Why was there blood? She thought this was...Neptune shook her head, why was she still surprise? She needs to remind herself that this is actually her real world now. Monsters don't just disappear like nothing and would respawn in a given time.

This isn't a game.

People die in this world, there are no such things as NPC, she could also die in this world.

Neptune gripped her sword. It has been days since the event, and of course experiencing something traumatic could not be easily washed away. A person died, his sword was what reminded the purple eyed girl that.

The only thing she has to do now is get stronger.

For the future.

Neptune grinned. "Author, you're being a bit too hard on me, wouldn't you-" Her words were cut off when she heard people talking near her location, whipping her head to the side, she stored her weapon and walked towards where she heard them talk.

It wasn't long before she noticed a cart, the sound of chains rattling, the creaking of the plywood and a man shouting on top of his lungs.

"Hurry up! You damn slaves better know that we're running out of time!" The man said, hitting the iron cage with his whip, while three other men were drinking as they make fun of one female slave. Neptune's eyes widened, immediately crouching down as to not alert the man, her eyes was focused on the cage.

There were probably ten or more people in there, some looked like they were adults, probably in the age of eighteen and sixteen, some had animal ears on top of their heads, but what has caught all her attention was the little elf girl with light purple has light purple eyes that was staring lifelessly on the ground. She looked so young, easily the youngest in all the other people in the cage, a chain tied to both her hands and feet.

"You three! A little help would be nice you jackasses, we're to deliver them to the capitol and you three trying to fuck that girl there would not only make our client furious but you would also be wasting our time." The man with the whip said with a glare. "Come on boss, a little taste wouldn't harm her. I bet she would even beg for more." Barking a laugh, one of the three said with a lecherous face, while the girl struggled on their grip, her exposed chest jingled at her movements.

"You fool, do remember the last time you did?" The man who was holding the slave girl's wrist, turned pale. "That's what I thought."

His gaze then caught sight of the elf girl with purple hair and walked to her direction. "Hey you!" The man's booming voice startled Neptune, where she saw the man grabbed a handful of the little girl's hair, easily lifting her. "I told you to walk didn't I?!"

The child whimpered, tears streamed down her dirty face. "I-I'm sorry." The man slammed her on the ground, knocking the air out of her. "Walk!" He whipped the little girl, causing her to scream in pain, falling to the ground yet again. "I said walk you imbecile!" He shouted and whipped yet again. Another cracking sound.

Neptune gritted her teeth, her eyes trained solely on the slave trader, anger was quick to follow up. Time seemed to slow for Neptune. All that mattered was that the slave trader was about to strike the girl again.

She needed to...MOVE

Quick step.

Sword readied.

Aim true.

And slash.

Nobody made a sound as Neptune stopped in between the girl and the slave trader, sword positioned to her side as purple eyes glare at the man in front of her. Then a scream escaped from the man's lips, as the hand that was carrying the whip fell to the ground. Blood squirted at the stump, while the man bled.

It seemed that she had overdone it, she was meant for break the whip not the hand itself.

It can't be helped.

The purple haired girl turned towards the girl behind her and smiled warmly. "Are you hurt?" She asked, to which the little elf girl nodded. Neptune frowned, but was then replaced by a gentle smile. "Don't worry this will all be over soon."

"Hey mister, you know hitting little girls does not make you a man at all." Neptune stated, she righted herself and pointed the sword towards the man. He gritted his teeth, the goons behind him had readied their weapons and was pointed at her.

The slave trader glared at her as he clutch his arm, trying to stop the bleeding. "You bitch! Who the fuck do you think you are?!"

"It doesn't matter who I am, what matters is that what you're doing is a no no. You get it don't you? Right, mister?" Neptune said. "Are you dumb? You think I'll let you walk away with what you've done?! Now!" The slave trader commanded, as two of his goons charged towards her. Their swords already positioned as they slash their way towards the purple eyed character.

Neptune stared at them, they look undeniably strong. Not only do they wield a frighteningly looking scimitars, but she could see that they have the intent to really harm her.

Breath in and breath out.

Then her eyes widened at the sudden sight of the scimitar slashing it's way towards her. She has barely dodged it, the blade inches away her face, as she ducked, her face was met with the man's knee, sending her head back violently. Neptune placed a hand on her nose, surely it's broken as it was bleeding profusely. Her hand letting go of the katana, disintegrating into nothingness.

It hurts. Her face was hot and her broken nose was unbearably painful. She ignored the pain and was met with a fist on her stomach. She hurled, air was knocked out of her and she could feel that she was ready to cry at any moment.

"Heh, acting all hero when you couldn't even save yourself. Pathetic." She heard one of them stated, then she hissed when one of them grabbed a fistful of her hair. "Boss, this ones nearly unconscious what should we do with her?"

"Fuck her for all I care, besides we got time now thanks to this bitch." Neptune's eyes widened. The man grabbing her hair grinned in a sinister manner, then he laughed. "Boss, you know she's a minor what with all this little body." He then grinned. "But you know what boss? I think I'll make an exception for this one." He then proceed to undo his trousers. "What say little girl? Ready to become a woman? I bet you're begging me to make you one." Neptune looked at him in horror as he speaks.

"N-NO!" Neptune thrashed, flinching when she felt hands trying to rip away her clothes. She thrashed, she struggled as the man on top of her was ready to defile her, his hands snaked from her chest to her thighs. "GET AWAY FROM-"

Slap!

The purple eyed girl's head jerked violently to the side. The man had just slapped her. "Be quiet you bitch, all you should be doing is moan in pleasure." He spat as he continued his actions.

The purple haired girl's heart hammered in her chest, blood pumped through her veins. Then she saw it, just a few feet away from her, the little girl she intended to rescue looked at her in desperation. A silent plea for Neptune to just get up and just...Just run away and leave her.

Her mind went blank at the sight. Unconsciously, the purple eyed re-equipped her sword and slashed at the man, cutting him in the chest area. "WHAT THE HELL?!" He shouted in pain, as he got away from the purple eyed character. Neptune embedded the sword on the ground, using as support. She then refocused her gaze in front of her, where she instantly used the katana to block the oncoming blade.

Neptune made a pained face, the weight that the other man exerted was truly heavy. But she didn't care. Everything was to be kneeling in front of her for forgiveness.

With her right hand she summoned Kyro's sword and stabbed the man on the stomach, causing him to howl in pain. But she wasn't done, she kicked the burly man, creating a small distance and used the katana and Kyro's sword and aimed for his neck, severing the head. The body knelt and fell on front of her. Blood sprayed on her, but she didn't care.

All she cared about was finish to other two and get the girl.

Neptune(?) shifted her gaze from the corpse to the man she had previously slashed. He was on his knees, bleeding through the cut she made, but his sword was still aimed at her.

"Y-you whore, you think I'll die without a fight?"

She clicked her tongue, they seriously need to give the respect she deserve. Neptune(?) readied herself, her swords on either hands, gleaming dangerously. Then she quick stepped, easily reaching the injured man, she positioned her sword and cut him successfully in half, thanks to the incredible speed of her skill.

Another one down. Neptune's empty purple eyes stared at the blood oozing out of the severed body. Then she heard a click. She found the remaining of the three goons aimed his crossbow towards the little girl. Not her, but the girl she was trying to protect.

This...This bitch.

The purple haired girl moved her body dashed towards the girl. Time slowed, and on bated breath, the man pulled the trigger. The arrow was sent propelling towards the little girl at such an alarming speed. Neptune reached the girl and shielded her back.

"HNRK!" She released a pained sound, the arrow successfully hitting her shoulder. Neptune heard the slave trader laugh. "You are a fool. Managing to kill two of my men?! WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!" He screamed, ordering his last man standing to fire once again.

Another arrow struck the purple character's back. It was fucking painful. Then another arrow was released, the sound of the slave trader's laughter resounded through her ears.

"B-Big sis..."The little girl she was hugging said in a wavering voice, Neptune(?) looked down to see another set of purple eyes. She smiled in pain. "E-Everything's okay..."

That's not good, she could feel her consciousness slipping past her. Neptune(?) gather everything in her willpower to grip the swords on her hands, she wasn't sure if it'll work, but it was worth trying. Deflecting the arrows and return it to the sender would be risky.

She heard the sound of the crossbow clicking, and she listened carefully. One...two...three...NOW!

Using her katana, she deflected the arrow and tried to return it back. Which, conveniently, worked. The arrow was sent back propelling towards the man's chest.

"HIII!" The slave trader looked in horror, piss was leaking through his trousers. Then he made a run for it. "YOU"LL REGRET THIS!" He shouted. Neptune wanted to follow but she was too tired.

But first, another priority. She needed to take free the other slaves and take this girl into safety. Neptune(?) groaned as she stood up, the arrows on her back wasn't making anything easier for her, to be honest she was surprised she was even alive at this point. She looked at the cage and saw that it was empty. They must've took the chance to run away.

Thank god.

She looked back to see if the other girl had done the same, but only found her looking at her. "H-Hey, why haven't you run away...?" Neptune asked weakly, but the little girl didn't answer and just stared.

Neptune(?) panted, her consciousness was seriously almost out. She needs to get this girl to safety quick before she passes out. "D-Do you want to come with me?" She asked again, but this time, she was replied with a reluctant nod.

Neptune(?) laughed. "Silly girl..." She then beckoned for the girl to come closer, which she did hesitantly. The purple haired character groaned as she went and carried the little girl in her arms.

Fortunately, the girl was extremely skinny making it a little easier for her to carry her. Neptune(?) readied herself and dashed her way out of the woods, she nearly tumbled, her consciousness dangerously close to going out.

She saw the exit and hurriedly ran to Leanbox, where she immediately saw Compa chatting with IF as they walked towards the gates, with her peach haired friend was holding what appears to be a basket full of herbs.

"C-Compa!" Neptune(?) shouted, and sighed in relief as both her friends looked behind them. All she saw was they eyes going wide, Compa dropping her basket and IF mouth agape, as they both shouted for only one thing.

"NEPTUNE!"

She wan't proud of herself passing out these days, but that was what happened as she collapsed to the ground.