Dragging his massively damaged body away from his friends. The red hair’s unrecognizable, the blondie has her eyes opened, but lifeless as half of her body is missing.


    [Woman 1]: “Aaaaa… aaaa…”


    Struggling to even let out a cry.


    Protracting my blade, another shudders. I guess he heard the sound of it.


    [Kurira]: “Goodness me, I got these clothes yesterday, you know.”


    Looking at me with a puppy eye. Grabbing his hair.


    “N-No, wait, please please, please, don’t do this. Please.”


    Looking at him in the eye, I smiled.


    *STAB*


    Doing it sideway is good since you can see their last expression when they die. Make sure to clean it before I wait on them. Soon their body crumble to dust and I take it that they’ll revive somewhere close by, probably in town.


    “Huh, I should be getting a PK penalty by now, but where is it?”


    My eyes peeled, “Wait, is it because…”


    Valysha finally entering the scene. Looking around the explosion before looking back at me. I’m not really exposed. My pants become shorts and I got a couple holes in my top.


    “You um… are you okay?”


    “Yep. I got this bangle.”


    <ul>


    <li>Bangle of the Earthshaker / Epic / Enchantment: Increases Strength and Endurance by 20. Increases Physical Defense by 200 + 50% / Requirement: 30 Strength, 30 Endurance, 20 Intelligence</li>


    </ul>


    Nodding, “I, I see.”


    Looking at the ground of the explosion.


    [Valysha]: “Those Travelers um, did they have to… die?”


    [Kurira]: “Oh, don’t worry, they’re coming back to life. Don’t you know that?”


    [Valysha]: “Right, of course.”


    Chuckling, I really don’t know what’s on her mind, but I guess she’s the type to overthinking things. Pretty similar to someone I know, but she wouldn’t mop around like that.


    Tapping Valysha’s back, I lead us back to civilization. Back to Clearwater Creek. To Adventurers Guild.


    [???]: “Ah, Valysha! Finally coming to your senses, I see.”


    A muscular man with a heavily trimmed beard. Walking up to the counter, “Guildmaster.”


    [GM]: “And this is the one you’re supervising? Came back so early though, how did it go?”


    [Valysha]: “…”


    His cheery demeanor kind of annoys me, but whatever. Valysha simply take her bag and drops all the things she had collected from our little expedition.


    The man, the guildmaster, look through the items and it looks like he’s in disbelief.


    “This wing…”


    “The manticore, sir.”


    He paused, almost like it makes him remember something. He looks at the other items, the goblin ears and their magic cores.


    [GM]: “Where’s the um, magic core on the manticore? And didn’t you take another quest with you?”


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    [Valysha]: “The core is destroyed, sir, same as the horned snake as there was nothing after Kurira’s attack. Those are all I can take from them, at least with the bag I have.”


    [GM]: “Destroyed?”


    He looks at me.


    [Kurira]: “The bombs took the chunk from those things, with the cores alongside it.”


    [GM]: “Bombs?”


    [Valysha]: “It’s what she specializes in, sir. Her class is Biomedical Engineer, and she crafts these bombs and defeat those things without them even noticing her. The goblins were taken out by—.”


    The man raises his finger, signaling for her to stop. He looks at my arm and feet. His breathing becomes heavier.


    [GM]: “Were you damaged by your bombs when you fight these creatures?”


    [Valysha]: “No, sir. But we did encounter some Travelers on the way home, and well, she had to take some drastic measures to um… get us home.”


    I glance at her before looking back to the man as he gazes to the manticore’s wing.


    [GM]: “Travelers… alright. Okay.”


    [Valysha]: “May I also give my recommendation, sir? I think miss Kurira would make a very positive impact to the guild and the people.”


    [Gm]: “Yeah, I’ve heard.”


    Tilting her head.


    [Valysha]: “You… heard?”


    [GM]: “You saved Jondi and my brothers from the mine,” he chuckles, “Even got Kell to chop up your legs for you. I swear I didn’t see it in him, but he did, huh.”


    Holding his gaze. He nods.


    [GM]: “Rank B. Think you can be satisfied with that?”


    Holding my synthetic skeletal hand up for a shake. He looks at it for a moment before shaking it confidently.


    [GM]: “Well then, Valysha, be sure to give our lady here your best support, and of course, the payment for these quests. I hope we meet again, miss Kurira.”


    [Kurira]: “Likewise…”


    [GM]: “Donovan.”


    [Kurira]: “Sir Donovan.”


    He walks up the stairs and Valysha smiles before entering another room. I peruse in the Quest board to see if there’s any handsomely rewarding quests, and I found a few.


    “Ogre village, orc camps…”


    “Mountain lion?”


    All I can do in a day and they’re C and B rank quests.


    [???]: “Oi, that’s mine.”


    Looking behind me, I see nobody.


    [???]: “You blind?!”


    I look down and I see a little midget, somewhat of a young dwarf. Well, actually it’s an adult, but I can’t really tell.


    “The ogre?”


    “No, the other one.”


    “Mountain lion?”


    “Yea! I got that set and I’m bringing my party with me right there and you snatched it up.”


    Raising my arms as I shrug, “Didn’t know it was already taken. Here you go.”


    Looking at the quest paper, he pauses. His eyes wonder, almost looking at my legs, and I’d snap him up if only I still have those flesh equipped instead of them being tucked away in the drawer of my M.A.T.


    “What, you don’t want it?”


    He snatches it. Looking at it before looking up to my legs, and arm again.


    “You’re an Engineer?”


    “Mm, close.”


    Rolling his lower lip as he started to sweat. Nervous. He looks at me in the eye once more before nodding away and leave. Joining back to his party and they left wondering as he rushes out.


    Eventually Valysha got changed and she returns with a bag full of coins. Laying it on the counter for me to take.


    “Here you go, 230.000 golds. That’s 120.000 for the manticore, 80.000 for Horned Scaled Serpent, and 30.000 for the goblin subjugation.”


    “Sweet.”


    “Right, um, do you have a place to stay, Kurira?”


    “No, but I’m looking for one.”


    “I know someone that can help you with that.”


    Taking the golds, “Really?”


    “Mm. Her prices are pretty steep but all the houses she manages are of very good quality. I can refer you to her, see if you can get better deal.”


    “Oh, that’ll be helpful. But first, give me the go for these.”


    Three quests papers.


    “Um, but we just got back.”


    Eyes peeled, “Did I stutter?” I smiled.


    For some reason, she giggles. She did end up giving the stamps for all of them, and I got out of there and get myself new drip from Felifenli. Muodi set me up with a nice attire.


    [Muodi]: “Crisp white linen shirt, featuring intricate black embroidery along the collar and cuffs. Trousers made from soft yet sturdy wool. Leather belt adorned with a silver buckle. Black leather boots, laced up with silver white lacing. Gloves, maybe not.”


    [Muodi]: “And considering you don’t need any defenses. Comfort must be your priority.”


    [Kurira]: “Hmm, 65.000 Golds for these?”


    [Muodi]: “Comes with a hat.”


    [Kurira]: “Sold.”


    It’s not just a hat. Rounded crown and narrow brim that curves slightly upward at the front, a gambler hat. Even has a gold-colored ribbon trimmed with intricate embroidery, and all that is needed is sewing this excess power core from the legendary core I processed on the right side.


    [Muodi]: “Where do you even find this?”


    [Kurira]: “Just a leftover from something I made.”


    [Muodi]: “Hunh, it’s strangely captivating.”


    Wearing it.


    [Kurira]: “Well then, be seeing you, Muodi.”


    She nods and I left that beautiful store.


    To be honest, I never really expected much from booting up the game. I thought it’s going to be very straightforward on what I’d do, but surprisingly, I have been having fun.


    Tell that to me from last month and I’d spit on your face if you tell me that I actually had fun playing alone like this. Though, it will never beat the feeling of happiness, fun, and joy that I experience with Dola, but when Konig says that this is the Golden Age of VR Gaming. I can see where she’s going with it.


    “Hope is the thing with feathers.”


    “That perches in the soul,”


    “And sings the tune without the words,”


    “And never stops at all.”