ã€Š3D/2D: I Got Sent to a Fantasy World and Turned into an Anime Character?!ã€‹


 Prologue: Sojourn in an Empty Void

    White. Endless white.

    Within this solitary space, that could aptly be described as blank ¡°stood¡± a lone ¡°figure¡±. Highly unstable, ¡°he¡± was constantly wavering between existence and un-existence. Like a candle at the mercy of the billowing wind.

    But, despite this crippling condition, he still radiated a distinct aura of strength; an overwhelming presence. And will. Unyielding will. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why ¡°they¡± feared him as much as they did.

    As he was ruminating about idle thoughts (which was pretty much the only thing he could actually do in this blank void) another presence ¡°entered¡±.

    Unlike the first, this one did not give off that stifling aura of power. Still, ¡°she¡± carried a distinct nature of her own. Serene ¨C like the surface of an undisturbed lake; and no less majestic.

    ¡°So it¡¯s you again. Why do you insist on coming back to pester me with your endless inquisitiveness? Are the ramblings of an exiled fool like me really that interesting?¡± the first one uttered with an annoyed tone.

    She gave him a teasing smile and came nearer.

    ¡°There you go again with that attitude of yours. Couldn''t you at least try to be a little less grouchy whenever I come to visit? I¡¯m pretty much the only one who actually bothers you know.¡±

    ¡°Who do you think is making me this irritable?!¡± he exclaimed. He actually didn''t hate her visits per se. Not that he would ever admit to that fact anyway. He was just worried for her. She wasn''t supposed to come here. The price for getting found out was too high.

    ¡°My, my. Are you sure you want to keep that kind of attitude with me? I did go to the trouble of finding the main factor necessary for that plan of yours after all. A Counterpoint¡­¡±

    An awkward silence followed soon afterward. He was visibly taken aback by the sudden announcement and countless thoughts raced through his mind like a river that finally flowed again after being dammed up for so long.

    ¡°¡­¡­.You¡¯re serious aren''t you?¡± he asked in a trembling voice

    Her smile deepened. She knew that would get his attention.

    ¡°You know me well enough to tell if I was being serious or not. Yes, I did find a suitable candidate. He might even exceed the initial requirements you set for your grand plan.¡±

    A hint of amusement tinged her voice. She was elated that she was able to shake him enough to make him speechless. In all the time they''ve spent together until his banishment, he was the one who was always on top of things. Decisive and resolute; even in utter disgrace he kept his pride and dignity. It was one of the things she liked about him. She still did.

    He was truly grateful for the news. But he still held some reservations about the matter. If it were true, then she would be an accomplice to the greatest of crimes, the gravest of sins.

    ¡°Why are you going this far? You know full well you will not be able to avoid their detection for long. And the price for this betrayal will not be cheap. This place isn''t exactly paradise you know. You might even get it worse¡­¡±

    A hint of concern came with his admonishment. He¡¯d always had a soft spot for her. It was one of the things that kept him baffled even now.

    Stolen story; please report.

    ¡°Would you be satisfied if I told you it¡¯s because I care about you?¡± she said with nary a change in her expression.

    ¡°Spare me the thoughtless jokes.¡± he spat with a huff.

    ¡°___I wasn''t exactly joking you know¡­¡± she thought ¨C a slight frown marring her perfect features.

    Letting lose an exasperated sigh, she conceded that there was little chance they¡¯ll be able to be completely honest with each other. That was just how they were as individuals; always hiding their true thoughts and feelings with feigned ignorance or rough demeanor. And so, she decided to go with a convenient half truth. She spread her arms towards empty space and exclaimed.

    ¡°¡­As you know, there is only one thing ¡°we¡± collectively desire above all else: Something interesting. It shakes our very core. It fills our very being. It reminds us of what we lost. And what we stand to gain.

    It just so happened that my thoughts and methods for bringing this about began to diverge from the rest of ¡°them¡±. It¡¯s what attracted me to you. I mean, that IS the reason why they put you in here in the first place.¡±

    She gave him a challenging look after explaining her motives.

    The conviction in that statement could not be denied. He let out a sigh of his own knowing full well how, once she decides on something, she would stubbornly carry it through to the end. The fact that she was visiting him in this desolate ¡°prison¡± despite the risks involved was proof enough.

    ¡°I assume from your tone that you¡¯re just about ready to begin the plan?¡± he asked with a resigned tone.

    ¡°Actually, I''ve already made my move. There¡¯s no stopping it now. Let¡¯s see them try.¡± Her smile was back now. But it had hints of mischief mixed in. And traces of disdain.

    Great anticipation filled him. Once again, after a seeming eternity of incarceration, he was overwhelmed by an uncontrollable feeling of utter excitement. The fire was re-lit and it would not be long until it blazed into a raging inferno that threatened to raze all in its path.

    But he forcefully reined his emotions in check; which took no small effort. There would be time enough for drowning in the feeling of triumph. And that was after he actually did achieve all of his goals.

    ¡°___She¡¯s always had a knack for riling me up¡­¡± he thought.

    Giving off the impression of smiling bitterly, he fully composed himself once more and thought about what the commencement of his age old plan truly meant for him; for all of ¡°them¡±.

    ¡°Will this prove to be the key to finally put an end to this delusional dream?¡± he asked with a voice tinged with longing. Yearning for that yet unfulfilled oath.

    She looked towards the emptiness once again and replied in a soft and comforting tone.

    ¡°That remains to be seen. We¡¯ll probably know soon enough anyway¡­ We¡¯ll make it this time. You¡¯ll see¡­ This time¡­ for sure.¡±

    And the cogs began turning¡­

    -Prologue End-

 Chapter 1: An End to the Ordinary

    The incessant cries of the neighbor¡¯s cat (which was several times louder than usual as it was probably in heat and is already engaged in ¡°business¡± w/ the landlady¡¯s tabby) woke him from a rather unsatisfying sleep.

    He looked at the small alarm clock on top of the table near the double deck bed (of which he was the only current occupant as his roommate decided to go back to his home province because of family issues) and checked the time. Finding that it was only a little past four in the morning, he got a little annoyed.

    Still, he probably couldn¡¯t get to fall asleep again. At least, not while running the risk of oversleeping and being late for work.

    And so, with a little shrug, he un-energetically got off the bed and proceeded to do his normal morning rituals. This included partaking in another breakfast consisting of beef flavored instant noodles, drinking his morning instant coffee, brushing his teeth with cheap toothpaste, rinsing his mouth with cheap mouthwash, bathing using a good old [1]tabo and putting on freshly ironed clothes straight from [2]Divisoria.

    He was particularly careful with his finances as it wasn¡¯t good to suddenly go short especially since he didn¡¯t have any relatives that lived nearby (the closest one was in [3]Bulacan and he was in [4]Imus) and he disliked the notion of borrowing money with a passion).

    Finally, rubbing on some cheap cologne, he decided to come in early for work.

    ***

    Name: Isaac John L. de la Cruz

    Age: 25

    Height: Average (5¡¯ 1¡± to be exact but he swears he¡¯s pushing 5¡¯ 2¡±)

    Face: Average (He¡¯s realistic enough face the fact that his looks were ¡°ordinary¡± and he honestly thinks he isn¡¯t exactly ¡°ugly¡±.)

    Build: Average (He isn¡¯t that well built, isn¡¯t exactly fat nor thin. Hence, ¡°average¡±.)

    A perfectly ordinary ¡°[5]Juan¡± living a perfectly ordinary life as a call center agent in an Australian telecommunications firm, scraping enough to go by and sometimes saving enough to allow him to send money to his parents back in [6]Pangasinan.

    It¡¯s been a little over four years since he first came from the province to look for work and considers himself lucky enough to land an okay job. The fact that he worked in a day shift despite being a call center agent was an unexpected bonus. The pay was relatively good too.

    ***

    He¡¯d arrived at the office at a little past six thirty. Since his shift actually starts at eight, he decided to go over to the lounge first to have a quick smoke and fully wake his still-drowsy self up.

    ¡°Morning Ice. You¡¯re quite early today.¡±

    Greeting him with his high school nickname as soon as he arrived was a bespectacled girl with a petite build and a cheerful air which made one feel really at ease.

    Melinda R. Marcos, one of his few female friends. He¡¯d known her since high school. And no, she isn¡¯t related to a certain former first lady. Her peers didn¡¯t fail to point out the obvious similarity in names though. She would just laugh it off.

    She was a bright, cheerful girl who had the uncanny ability to almost instantly get along with people. Even ones she¡¯s just met for the first time.

    Her getting along with him was proof enough as he wasn¡¯t exactly a poster boy for good social interaction. Ice, his all too flashy nickname, was actually coined from his aloof nature during his high school years. Nowadays you¡¯d call him ¡°emo¡±.

    Melinda wasn¡¯t fazed and was always the one to drag him off to attend class activities (she was the class rep) while he was busy acting all sentimental under his favorite mango tree. She¡¯d slowly ¡°integrated¡± him with the rest of the class and got permission to call him ¡°Ice¡± since pronouncing Isaac was ¡°a pain¡± and told him to call her ¡°Lin¡±.

    He didn¡¯t really like the nick as he felt it really sarcastic because of the fact that he wasn¡¯t exactly as ¡°cool¡± as it suggested. To put it bluntly, he was quite nerdy. He was okay with Lin calling him that though. Maybe because he didn¡¯t really feel she was secretly making fun of him when she used it. It was pretty natural. He liked that.

    He¡¯d been stuck with her ever since. At least up until high school graduation.

    Her family needed to move to [7]Manila for her father¡¯s work and he hadn¡¯t seen nor heard from her all throughout his college years. Meeting her shortly after coming to Manila himself and actually ending up going to the same company was quite a happy coincidence.

    Truth be told, he actually really liked her. But, like all the ¡°[8]dakilang torpes¡± before him, Ice had difficulty confessing. That was way over his head at that time and it still is even after all these years. Ice thought it was really pathetic of him considering his age but what can¡¯t be helped can¡¯t be helped; at least for now.

    ¡°___So much for the cool nickname¡­¡± he thought.

    He gave Lin a slight nod sporting a stiff, awkward smile which was typical of him. Lin gave a bright smile in return which didn¡¯t fail to cause fatal errors his brain.exe even though he practically gets to see it five days a week.

    ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t know you started smoking too Lin. Did the stress finally get to you?¡± Ice asked, smiling wryly. He always tried to joke around with her ¨C mainly so he could try and calm his nerves which almost always seemed to get the better of him whenever he was with her despite them knowing each other for so long.

    Lin¡¯s smile brightened and answered in an amused tone.

    ¡°No silly. I was just talking to Erica about Tim¡¯s birthday this Sunday. You¡¯ll come too won¡¯t you? You get along with him really well after all.¡±

    Timotheo ¡°Tim¡± Marcos was Lin¡¯s impressionable younger brother. He was quite tall, good at sports, stellar in academics and fairly good looking with a [9]moreno complexion. In other words, he was Ices¡¯ complete opposite. Strangely enough, he and Ice got along quite well because of one common denominator: video games.

    They were both avid gamers and eventually got Lin into it too (She was nigh invincible in rhythm/music and dance games.) Their antics camping outside their favorite net cafe during the heyday of [10]Ragnarok Online (Especially during the [11]simbang gabi period.) and occasionally pitting their skills in quick bouts of [12]Tekken was a pleasant memory for him.

    ¡°Course I¡¯ll come; wouldn¡¯t miss it for anything.¡±

    ¡°Great! Um, about that¡­ I actually have a favor to ask if you don¡¯t mind¡­¡±

    ¡°Ask away!!!¡± he answered in a slightly high pitched voice. Not good. He was getting overly excited again. She always had that effect on him. And he fell for it every time.

    ¡°Oh!¡­ Uuuh, okay.¡± Lin giggled cutely. ¡°See, I was planning to get Tim a gift but I¡¯m not overly familiar with his preferences. I was thinking, since you got along with him so well, you¡¯d probably know best.¡±

    Ice paused to think a bit and gave an appropriate reply.

    ¡°He was talking about wanting to upgrade his gaming rig a while back so maybe some new hardware for his PC.¡±

    ¡°PC upgrades then. Okay.¡± Lin paused for a bit, still looking troubled.

    ¡°Is there something else?¡± Ice asked.

    Lin slightly averted her eyes from his gaze and replied with a hesitant and slightly embarrassed voice. ¡°Umm¡­ well¡­ you see, I¡¯m not really familiar with those kinds of things so I was thinking¡­ if you would want to come with me to pick something out¡­¡± Then she looked at him again with expectant eyes. It was instant K.O. There was no way Ice was going to refuse. More like, he¡¯d come no matter what else came up.

    ¡°I¡¯ll come!!! When?!¡± he replied; not bothering to disguise the anticipation in his voice.

    Lin smiled sweetly and giggled at Ices¡¯ reaction. ¡°How bout 10 o¡¯clock tomorrow at [13]Greenhills. I¡¯ll wait for you in front of [14]Booksale.¡±

    ¡°Booksale Greenhills at 10. Got it.¡± Ice nodded slightly in affirmation.

    ¡°Great. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow then.¡±

    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°Okay. See you.¡±

    Lin parted with him with that dazzling smile of hers still burned in his consciousness and Ice was left dumbfounded until one of his co-workers reminded him it was nearly time for their shift.

    ***

    After a particularly nerve wracking, sleepless night, Ice proceeded to get ready for his appointment with Lin with evident gusto. He didn¡¯t even know why he was so excited himself since they often went out together anyway¡­ with their respective [15]barkadas in tow that is.

    That¡¯s it! They¡¯ll be alone together. Just the two of them! This hasn¡¯t happened since high school. Something good is going to happen today. Ice could feel it in his bones. No, he¡¯ll make it happen! Today is the day he says goodbye to his torpe self!

    And so, after bathing using a newly opened bath soap that boasted about being able to give you good looking skin due to having moisturizing cream infused with it, bringing out his treasured, slightly pricey body spray from the depths of the closet and wearing fashionable(?) clothes, Ice finally went on his merry way for a date with destiny(?!¡­)

    ***

    After braving the usual long lines to board the [16]MRT, Ice, barely making it, hustled for a place near the coach door and was now on his way to [17]Santolan station. He was already used to how cramped the MRT gets sometimes and was praying he never gets caught up in one of those ¡®incidents¡¯ happening lately. Since he was practically sandwiched between the other passengers and the automatic door it wouldn¡¯t even be funny if, say, the door opened by accident while the train was still running.

    Finding his thoughts silly, Ice proceeded to try to make himself as comfortable as possible, crammed in an MRT coach filled with sweaty guys while standing ¨C as difficult as that may sound.

    And then ¡®it¡¯ happened.

    Before he knew it, a situation which seemed to have been plucked straight from a B grade horror flick unfolded. The surrounding people froze, as if time was suddenly stopped, and an unnatural mist started to seep from the cracks on the automatic doors.

    ¡°The heck is this?! [18]Wow Mali?! Stop kidding around [19]Mr. Joey de Leon! I don¡¯t have time for pranks!¡±

    He received no reaction of course. And the people around him really seemed to be ¡®frozen¡¯. They weren¡¯t even breathing. He tried to get their arms or heads to move to confirm whether or not they were just highly trained stuntmen who do crazy amounts of Yoga. He couldn¡¯t make them budge in the slightest. He couldn¡¯t even smoothen the creases on their clothes.

    ¡°The heck!? What the hell is this?! This isn¡¯t possible!¡­ I¡¯m not dreaming am I?!¡±

    As Ice was getting increasingly panicked by the second; another unexpected event happened.

    The MRT doors behind him suddenly opened. Feeling an unnatural chill permeating his back; Ice slowly turned around to find himself facing a dark, seemingly bottomless void.

    The frazzled nerves he was trying to control suddenly snapped and, as he was about to let loose an uncharacteristic scream, a gentle and strangely calming voice whispered near his ear¡­

    ¡°I finally found you¡­ Counterpoint.¡±

    Next thing he knew, he found himself hurtling further into the void, bellowing a soundless scream that was swallowed up by the surrounding darkness along with him.

    -And End to the Ordinary End-

    *Notes

    [1]Tabo ¨C also known as the dipper (commonly made of plastic nowadays) used to scoop water out of a pail; it is an essential part of Philippine bathrooms. It¡¯s also used in a wide variety of other non-conventional ways i.e. improvised watering can, garden plant vase, a weapon used by pissed off wives to hurl at their womanizing husbands etc.

    [2]Divisoria ¨C large marketplace situated within the heart of Metro Manila. Known for having a lot of products you can buy at very cheap prices. A haven for bargain hunters and retailers. It also houses several shopping malls and arcades.

    [3]Bulacan ¨C a province located in Central Luzon, in the northern part of the Philippines. Known for its fireworks industry and delicious chicharon (fried pork skins, bad for the heart but highly addictive snack)

    [4]Imus ¨C municipality belonging to the province of Cavite which is located a bit south of Metro Manila.

    [5]Juan/a or Juan/a de la Cruz ¨C generic term used to denote an ordinary Filipino citizen.

    [6]Pangasinan ¨C Province located along the western area of the island of Luzon. Its name can be roughly translated as ¡°place for salt¡± or ¡°place for salt making¡± and does have salt making as one of its primary industries. It¡¯s also known for its milk fish, indigenous rice cakes and beaches.

    [7]Manila ¨C Can either refer to Manila (the capital and second largest city of the Philippines) or Metro Manila (also known as National Capital Region; consists of a total of 16 cities including Manila and is the central hub for economic activity in the country).

    [8]Torpe ¨C dense, slow witted regarding affairs with the opposite sex

    [9]Moreno ¨C In this case, it refers to a particular type of skin tone among Filipinos. It¡¯s of a darker shade than the popular mestizo/mestiza skin tone (light/fair skin more common with those with foreign ancestry such as Half or Quarter Spanish Filipinos) that is currently prevalent in Philippine show business. You can think of it as ¡°natural tan¡±. It¡¯s, more often than not, used as a compliment however and is usually devoid of any negative connotations associated with the term. But as they say ¨C ¡°The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence¡±.

    [10]Ragnarok Online ¨C Is also known as RO. A Korean MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-playing Game) created by GRAVITY Co. Ltd that is considered by some to be THE one game that started the MMO boom in the Philippines. It was wildly popular back in the day and numerous private servers still exist at present.

    [11]Simbang Gabi ¨C (Filipino for ¡°Night Mass¡±) is a devotional nine-day series of Masses practiced by Roman Catholics and some other Christian sects in the Philippines in anticipation of Christmas and to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary.

    [12]Tekken ¨C Tekken (Japanese: âŸÈ­?, ¡°Iron Fist¡±) is a fighting game franchise created, developed and published by Namco (later Bandai Namco Games). Beginning with the original Tekken in 1994, the series has received several sequels as well as updates and spin-off titles. It was well received in the Philippines and an arcade with a Tekken game is a common sight in a lot of malls and shopping centers nationwide.

    [13]Greenhills ¨C A shopping centre in the city of San Juan in the Philippines. It has over 2,000 stores, and espouses an ¡®indoor-outdoor¡¯ theme, with the Shopping Center having the appearance of several distinct buildings (some separated by a main road) that are all interconnected through pathways and bridges. It hosts a Roman Catholic chapel and a Muslim prayer room.

    [14]Booksale ¨C It¡¯s a popular retailer of low-priced unused, as well as previously owned books and bargain publications from the U.S., Canada, Australia and the UK. It also hosts several local publications and magazines.

    [15]Barkada ¨C peers, a group of friends that often hang out together

    [16]MRT ¨C Manila Metro Rail Transit System, a rapid transit system running across the Metro.

    [17]Santolan station ¨C It¡¯s a station on the Manila Light Rail Transit System Line 2 (MRT-2). Santolan Station is one of the many elevated stations that can be found on the line.

    [18]Wow Mali ¨C The longest running gag-show on Philippine TV. Think along the lines of Candid Camera and you¡¯ve pretty much gotten it.

    [19]Joey de Leon ¨C Jos¨¦ Mar¨ªa Ramos de Le¨®n, better known as Joey de Leon (born October 14, 1946) is a Filipino comedian, actor, and television presenter. He hosts the noontime variety show Eat Bulaga! and is a member of the comedian trio Tito, Vic and Joey.

 Chapter 2: Out of this World

    The chirping of birds slowly woke Ice up from his stupor and bright morning light suddenly dazzled his eyes. Slowly shaking the cobwebs off of his frazzled consciousness, he was suddenly greeted by an unfamiliar room.

    The bed was a wooden one as opposed to the metal double deck bunk bed he had at the dorms and there was a rustic feel to it. The small table, chairs and drawers were wooden as well. In fact, the entire room was wooden apart from the bed cushion, pillows and sheets. It resembled the interior of a traditional log house.

    Going over to the veranda, Ice found it was really was a log house. A stretch of tall conifers was nearby overlooking a pristine looking lake. It wasn¡¯t exactly scenery you¡¯d expect to see in the Philippines.

    He leaned over the railings and put one hand over his forehead to block the sun as he squinted to look at the surroundings.

    ¡°Where exactly am I? What happened? It feels like I¡¯m forgetting something really important¡­¡±

    Ice was still a bit light headed so he decided to sit back down on the bed to settle down a little. Then, glancing down on the small mirror on top of the wooden table, Ice suddenly did a double take.

    ¡°The heck¡¯s this?! Is this¡­ me?¡­¡±

    What stared back at him in the mirror was a completely unfamiliar face. Alabaster skin that seemed so pale he¡¯d probably pass for a ghost if you saw him at night. Light blue hair, azure, slightly angled and piercing eyes. He ran his fingers through his hair and felt up his face to make sure he really was looking at ¡®himself¡¯.

    It all seemed so surreal. Then again, so was everything that happened to him up until now.

    ¡°Wait¡­ What exactly happened to me? I remember taking the MRT to meet up with Lin and then¡­ And then¡­

    AAAAAAAH!¡±

    Ice screamed as a sudden flurry of memories came back to him ¨C and with it, came the realization that something outrageous happened to him.

    It all came back to him ¨C the people frozen stiff, the creepy mist, falling through the dark void and that mysterious voice¡­

    ¡°___What did it call me again? Counterpoint¡­¡±

    While he was immersed in confused thoughts, a small knock resounded from the other side of the room¡¯s door.

    ¡°Um, excuse me. I heard some noises down stairs so could you possibly be awake now sir?¡±

    A girl¡¯s soft voice inquired somewhat sheepishly. Deciding he won¡¯t get anywhere just acting all confused by himself, Ice decided to gather some information first.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m awake now. Please come in.¡±

    Slowly opening the door, a foreign girl appeared. She was a bit smaller in stature, and by then Ice had noticed that he had apparently grown taller than he remembered. Given the drastic change to his face however, he wasn¡¯t really all that surprised anymore. She was carrying a small woven basket. And, judging from the smell, it contained food.

    Ice was suddenly reminded of the fact that he hadn¡¯t eaten breakfast yet because he was too excited about the not-exactly-a-date-sort-of-rendezvous with Lin. His stomach let loose a low rumble which, in turn, elicited a fit of cute laughter from the girl.

    ¡°Pffft¡­ Ahahahahaha!¡± the girl held her stomach as she laughed unabashedly.

    ¡°What? That was just a conditioned physical response!¡± Ice retorted, sporting an incredulous face.

    ¡°Sorry. It¡¯s just¡­ It¡¯s my first time hearing a stomach growling that loud¡­ Ahahahaha!¡± she responded while trying to suppress her laughing fit.

    ¡°Alright, I get it. That was funny. Can we move on now?¡± he half-begged as embarrassment and slight annoyance finally got hold of him.

    ¡°Okay. Okay. Just give me a moment to breathe¡­ Haaah¡­ Ehehe. I¡¯m really sorry. That was quite rude of me wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    The girl finally calmed down and flashed him a radiant smile. Ices¡¯ annoyance flew out the window in an instant.

    ¡°Well, you were kinda cute so it¡¯s fine¡­¡± he mumbled while slightly averting his eyes from her smiling face.

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    The girl looked inquiringly at him and tilted her head in an all-too-adorable gesture.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing.¡±

    Ice waved the matter off and faced the girl again.

    Now that he got a proper look at her, the girl was definitely within the bounds of what Ice considered cute. He estimated she was roughly in her mid to late teens. Long caramel hair just short of her waist, large almond eyes, a small mouth and a slightly rounded face that radiated an air of innocence. A part of her hair was braided and tied up at the end by a small, pink ribbon which accentuated her overall charm.

    ¡°___Look at me, getting all flustered over a teenager¡­¡± he thought and made a complicated expression.

    ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± the girl asked after noticing the look on Ices¡¯ face.

    ¡°No! Not at all! Don¡¯t mind me.¡± he responded in an agitated tone.

    ¡°Hah.¡±

    It seemed the girl decided not to pry further.

    ¡°___Geez. Just how clich¨¦d can this get?¡±

    ¡°Anyway, if you¡¯re hungry then please have some. There¡¯s plenty to go around anyway.¡± offered the girl.

    ¡°Oh. Uh, thanks miss.¡±

    He grabbed what was apparently a freshly made sandwich from the basket and took a bite. It was delicious. The meat was flavorful and the greens were crisp and fresh. The dressing was tangy with just the right amount of acidity to stimulate the palate and also had a small kick of spiciness. He finished it in seconds and grabbed more.

    Realizing that just grabbing every sandwich he could get his hands on was rude, Ice stopped eating and bowed his head in apology.

    ¡°Err¡­ Sorry bout that miss. I was really hungry and the sandwich was delicious.¡±

    She giggled cutely, took some more sandwiches from the basket and handed them to Ice.

    ¡°That¡¯s okay. I¡¯m glad you liked it. Don¡¯t worry. I made plenty more so go ahead and eat your fill. Judging from the way your stomach was growling earlier you must be pretty hungry.¡±

    ¡°Uh, yeah. Don¡¯t mind if I do then.¡±

    After wolfing down a few more sandwiches, Ice decided to finally gather some information from the girl who was probably his benefactor.

    ¡°Hey¡­ Uh, not to sound rude but¡­ who are you and where exactly is this place?¡±

    ¡°Ah, right! I haven¡¯t introduced myself yet have I? I¡¯m Seabelle. Seabelle Seyramour. You can just call me Sea. It¡¯s nice to meet you umm¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­Ice. Just call me Ice.¡±

    Deciding that giving out his full name would be a little too risky considering how little he knew of the current situation, he just decided to go with his nickname for the time being.

    ¡°Okay! Nice to meet you Ice.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you too Miss Seabelle.¡±

    ¡°Just call me Sea. I¡¯m more used to that and I don¡¯t like being too formal.¡±

    ¡°___She¡¯s surprisingly easy to talk with.¡±

    Feeling more comfortable with her, Ice decided to call her Sea just like she wanted and acted a bit less stiff. He was still wary though. This was still an unfamiliar place and he still didn¡¯t know much about Sea either.

    ¡°Just where exactly are we Sea? This doesn¡¯t exactly seem to be anywhere in the Philippines. Is this somewhere abroad?¡±

    Disregarding the absurdity of being flown into a foreign country overnight, Ice deemed it more important to get a handle on things first and thus decided not to sweat the small stuff; at least for now. He was, however, met with a questioning gaze.

    ¡°Umm¡­ Are you sure you¡¯re really alright now? Perhaps you hit your head on an accident or something¡­¡±

    ¡°No. At least I think I didn¡¯t¡­ Anyway, could you please answer my question? Is this a foreign country? Somewhere in the West? Are we in America? Or perhaps the U.K.?¡±

    ¡°Umm¡­ What are you talking about?¡± Sea asked as her confusion deepened further.

    ¡°Not those two? Canada then? Wait, is this Australia? Are there conifer trees in Australia? Hmmm¡­¡±

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Ice grabbed his chin and started thinking back on whether or not Australia had pine trees.

    ¡°Umm¡­ I think we should take you to the village doctor first. You still seem confused¡­¡±

    Seas look became even more worried and she tried to convince him to got to the doctor once more.

    ¡°Doctor? No, I feel fine see; never been better!¡±

    Ice began doing jumping jacks to show he was feeling fine but the look of concern from Sea never disappeared.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t mean your body. You still seem out of sorts. Umm¡­ Forgive me if this sounds rude but you¡¯ve been talking nonsense since a while ago Ice.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense? What about my question was nonsense? I was just asking where we are. You¡¯re not telling me you don¡¯t know of America are you? The U.S. of A.? How bout the United Kingdom? I¡¯m from the Philippines by the way; ¡®[1]Mabuhay!¡¯ and all that.¡± Ice snapped. He was getting considerably more agitated by the second.

    ¡°¡­¡­.We really need to get you to the doctor! Come with me!¡±

    Grabbing his arm, Sea tried to pull him towards the door. Ice shook his arm off her grip and proceeded to protest.

    ¡°Now listen here miss! It¡¯s rude to imply there¡¯s something wrong with someone¡¯s head when all he¡¯s doing is asking a simple question. Now I¡¯m not budging an inch until you tell me exactly where we are and what¡¯s going on!¡±

    Sea began to look really flustered and seemed to be genuinely lost about what to do. Ice was incensed by the desperate look in Seas eyes and proceeded to apologize.

    ¡°Uuuh¡­ Sorry. I¡¯m just a bit on edge here. I wake up to find I¡¯m in who-knows-where and I really don¡¯t have a clue about what¡¯s going on.¡±

    ¡°Umm, that¡¯s okay. I can sort of understand where you¡¯re coming from; suddenly waking up in an unfamiliar place like this. Anyway, this here is the village of Maleena. It¡¯s a small village near the borders between the principalities of Ricksvale and Gran Sirius.¡±

    ¡°___Maleena? Ricksvale? Gran Sirius? What¡¯s with all the flashy sounding names? Did the number of countries suddenly increase by a few while I wasn¡¯t paying attention? Is the U.N. aware of this?¡±

    Instead of things being clarified, Ice was even more confused by Seas strange reply. He tried to inquire again.

    ¡°Umm¡­ Where¡¯s this again?¡±

    ¡°Like I said, this is the village of Maleena. It¡¯s near the northwestern end of the Valis continent. It¡¯s considered neutral territory by pretty much all of the seven principalities and is pretty popular as a spa resort!

    People flock to our village to bathe in our mineral rich springs. They say it has skin enhancing and rejuvenating properties among other benefits. Our patented Original Maleena Spring Water is used as a popular bath reagent by noble ladies. It¡¯s really effective and the greatest proof is the timeless beauty of Maleenan women and their smooth, lively looking skin!¡±

    Puffing out her surprisingly ample chest, Sea acted really proud of this little village called Maleena ¨C proud of her ¡®smooth, lively looking skin¡¯ too by the looks of it.

    She actually sounded suspiciously like those professional tour guides Ice listened to during company trips. So much so that he thought it wouldn¡¯t really sound out of place if she suddenly blurted out ¡®[2]It¡¯s more fun in Maleena!¡¯

    But that wasn¡¯t the issue! That wasn¡¯t the issue at all!!!

    ¡°Eh?! Maleena? Ricksvale? Gran Sirius? Valis? Wait, which continent is this again? Eurasia? Is it a part of Eurasia? Eeeeh?!¡±

    ¡°There you go again with your nonsense Ice. Even little kids know about the name of the continent we¡¯re in. It¡¯s basic geography. What¡¯s Eurasia or America anyway? Are these what Valis and Ehvenlande are called where you¡¯re from? Those are very weird names.¡± she responded with a light laugh.

    Ice was taken aback. Sea didn¡¯t seem to be acting and this definitely doesn¡¯t seem to be an episode of Wow Mali. It was too elaborate. He was having a hard time swallowing all the information.

    Then it hit him.

    After reviewing all the crazy stuff that happened to him, Ice, the ever avid gamer and otaku, came to one conclusion. Still, watching or reading about it was one thing and it happening in reality, moreover it happening to him of all people, was another story altogether.

    However, the truth was staring at him right in the face. He was again looking at the small mirror; looking at his face. And he wondered why he was able to ignore that crucial little detail and think of it as natural when it very obviously wasn¡¯t.

    Besides, he was talking to a foreign girl with absolutely no problems understanding her, and there would be nothing wrong with that if they were speaking in English.

    He actually worked as a call center agent so his English was quite okay. Problem was; they weren¡¯t speaking English at all. And it certainly wasn¡¯t Filipino. But he completely understood every word and could converse perfectly fine in this completely unfamiliar language.

    He pinched his cheek hard wondering if doing that would wake him up from this crazy dream scenario. It was certainly painful. But he didn¡¯t wake up.

    ¡°The heck¡­ How the hell is this happening?¡­ Is this even possible?¡­ It doesn¡¯t seem to be a dream?¡­ A top secret experiment on virtual reality by some shady foreign organization? No that¡¯s crazy! Then again ALL of this is crazy!¡± Ice mumbled incoherently while his face turned even paler than it already was.

    Sea proceeded to hold his hand and spoke in a soothing voice to try and calm him down.

    ¡°Um, Ice? What¡¯s wrong? Your face looks horrible? Do you want to go see the doctor now? Does it hurt anywhere? Please tell me. I¡¯m here to help.¡±

    Coming to from his reverie for a bit, Ice once again took a good look at Sea to finally make sure of his conclusions.

    ¡°Um, Ice¡­ if you stare at me like that I¡¯ll get embarrassed¡­¡±

    Seas cheeks were faintly blushing as Ice stared at her with fierce intensity.

    Yep. Cute. Real cute. Long caramel hair just short of her waist, large almond eyes, a small mouth and a slightly rounded face that radiated an air of innocence. A part of her hair was braided and tied up at the end by a small, pink ribbon which accentuated her overall charm.

    And on top of her head was a long, slightly drooping, perfectly shaped [3]ahoge¡­¡­

    ¡°Hmmm¡­ It¡¯s an ahoge alright. Yep. Definitely an ahoge. Ahoge¡­ Ahoge?¡­

    AHOOOOOOGEEEEEEEEEEEH!!!!!!!!¡±

    Ice startled Sea so much with his sudden yell, she fell to the floor.

    ¡°Eh? What¡¯s wrong with my hair? Why did you suddenly yell like that? Ice? Ice! Are you okay?! The whites of your eyes are showing!¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­Ehehehehe¡­ Nyehehehehehehe¡­ Wahahahahahahahaha! Seriously?! You gotta be kidding me! This is one hell of a joke! I¡­ I really did turn into one¡­ I turned¡­ I turned into¡­

    I TURNED INTO A 2D ANIME CHARACTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­..¡±

    Ice let out another heart felt scream.

    -Out of this World End-

    *Note

    [1] Mabuhay ¨C A Tagalog greeting. It literally is the imperative form of ¡°live¡±, from the root word buhay (life). The phrase carries various meanings including ¡°may you live¡±, ¡°cheers¡±, ¡°welcome¡±, and ¡°hurrah¡±. It is thus analogous to the Romance language expression ¡°Vive, Viva¡±, the Hindustani suffix Zindabad, and the Japanese exclamation Banzai.

    [2] A parody of the tourism marketing campaign title ¡°It¡¯s More Fun in the Philippines¡± coined by the Philippine Department of Tourism.

    [3] Ahoge ¨C (literally idiot hair) refers to the noticeable slim forelock of hair that sticks straight up from an anime/manga/LN character¡¯s head. Originally a hairdresser term for the ¡°stupid hairs¡± or cowlicks that will not comb down, it later mutated into a literal reflection of a person¡¯s intelligence. Thus Idiot Hair suggests that a character is stupid, naive, or strange. (This suggestion is usually accurate, but not always ¨C sometimes a serious character just has funny hair.)

 Chapter 3: El Fabula

    Slightly recovering from the shock of suddenly being dropped into an [1]otakus wet dream, Ice decided to just continue gathering more information because he deemed it was currently the best course of action he could take at the moment. Floundering around blind or acting all confused won¡¯t get him anywhere after all.

    As for his earlier behavior, Ice just went with the tried and true ¡°Identity Amnesia¡± trope. Because of the fact that it was an incredibly contrived excuse, Ice was somewhat taken aback that Sea readily believed it.

    ¡°Hmmm¡­ So you remember absolutely nothing apart from your name and the names for countries and continents used in your homeland. Philippines, was it? What a weird name ehehe.

    Do you perhaps remember where it¡¯s located? East? You mean the uncharted lands to the Far East?

    That certainly would have been a perilous journey if you came from there to Valis. But then, why would you want to travel all the way to Valis in the first place?¡­

    I guess it¡¯s a little pointless to ask that to someone with amnesia huh?¡±

    She continuously asked several questions at a fast pace and Ice tried to answer each one to the best of his ability while trying to cover up the little white lie he made. He was, however, a little worried about Seas¡¯ apparent lack of tension upon meeting a highly suspicious individual (Ice) in a highly suspicious way.

    ¡°___Is she the type to easily fall for scams?¡­¡±

    Realizing that his thoughts were going off track, Ice decided to go back to the main concern at hand.

    ¡°If you wouldn¡¯t mind Sea; I¡¯d really appreciate it if you could tell me more about this world. It¡¯s really quite depressing not knowing practically anything apart from my name¡­¡±

    ¡°Ah. Yes, of course. This is kinda exciting! I¡¯ve always wanted to become a teacher you know. It¡¯s kinda nice to relive your childhood dreams huh.

    Don¡¯t you just hate it when things don¡¯t really turn out the way you imagined it when you were a kid? I was pretty depressed when the System suddenly decided I wasn¡¯t fit to be an ¡®Educator¡¯. I was really sad and ended up sulking for days. I¡¯m pretty much used to it now though. And I learned to love my current class¡­¡±

    ¡°Uh-huh¡­¡±

    Ice answered indifferently, with a tone that seemed to imply ¡®please just get on with it miss¡¯, and looked at her with half-lidded eyes.

    ¡°Uuh¡­ E-hem! Without further ado then¡­¡±

    Sea coughed awkwardly and started her explanation.

    And so, Ice learned about this unfamiliar world (which was apparently called El Fabula by the locals) and the various nations that existed here. He was currently in a continent called Valis which was considered one of the major world powers in El Fabula.

    However, it was not unified under a single government or ruler and is instead divided into a total of seven principalities; each under a particular noble family who ruled independently.

    There were originally a lot more territories; but after years of war, it was reduced to the current seven.

    The present situation, while still relatively tense, has settled down a lot compared to the time of rampant territorial wars. The various ruling families have even started to hold annual councils to discuss their various ruling policies, decide on trade agreements among other things. They also agreed to hold a united front if an outside force ever threatened the continent.

    Of course, there were still lots of shady goings on beneath the all the calm; and several of the principalities (or rather, their rulers) were constantly trying to one-up each other (discreetly or otherwise).

    But that¡¯s politics for you. Even in another world; it never changes.

    Maleena, the village Ice was currently in, is situated between the borders of two principalities which have been quite friendly with each other since their founding ¨C the principalities of Ricksvale and Gran Sirius. There have also been political marriages between the two so tensions were really low and locals were generally laid-back, friendly folk.

    It was also pretty well know as a spa resort just as Seas sales pitch mentioned earlier. It enjoys patronage from a majority of people in the Valis continent and is very popular with the nobles. Thus, it is regarded as neutral territory where everyone is entitled to relax and enjoy regardless of where they¡¯re from. It also attracts customers from other continents.

    ¡°Okay! We¡¯ve just about covered all the basics regarding the Valis continent. Next, I¡¯m going to lecture you about the other two major continents in El Fabula ¨C Ehvenlande and Shaturia. Make sure to pay attention.¡±

    Seas eyes were glowing with excitement, making her enjoyment for teaching quite apparent. But even though she was all fired up, Ice was a different story.

    ¡°Eh? Wai- wait! Now just hold up a bit. My head¡¯s kinda spinning from all that info dump you bombarded me with. Let¡¯s go over those some other time. Still though, you weren¡¯t kidding when you said you loved teaching. You¡¯ll make one heck of a teacher.¡±

    ¡°Really?! Ehehe. I¡¯m kinda happy to hear you say that. I¡¯ve always loved teaching after all.¡±

    Sea scratched her cheek with her forefinger and blushed slightly from embarrassment after hearing Ices¡¯ compliment(?); a trace of longing appearing on her face soon afterward.

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you planning to pursue it as your primary profession?¡± Ice inquired a bit hesitantly after noticing the change in Seas mood. Sea gave a bitter smile but replied readily.

    ¡°Unfortunately, no, I didn¡¯t. Or rather, I couldn¡¯t. The System has already picked out a proper class path for me so that¡¯s that. It¡¯s not so bad though. I still get to mentor the ¡®Initiates¡¯ so I¡¯m still kinda reliving my dream.

    Besides, without the proper Skill sets, I won¡¯t be able to match the overall efficiency of a person who has ¡®Educator¡¯ as a proper class.¡±

    Ices¡¯ interest was piqued by this statement. His instinct was firing up; his gamer instinct that is.

    ¡°This ¡®class¡¯ thing¡­ Could you please elaborate further¡­¡±

    ¡°I thought we were going to take a break? Were you just not interested in geography and history? You can¡¯t just pick your favorite subjects to study you know.¡± Sea replied with a bit of scolding for her unruly student (Ice).

    Ice made a pleading expression and clasped his hands in front of his face as he begged.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry ma¡¯am. I¡¯m just really interested in the System and ¡®classes¡¯ so could you please teach me about those. Pretty please?¡±

    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°Oh, alright. But I¡¯m giving you some homework afterwards okay.¡±

    ¡°Okay ma¡¯am¡±

    Somehow it really turned into a student-teacher role play but, surprisingly, Ice was actually enjoying it.

    He was never really that attentive in class. Maybe it¡¯s the difference between a cute female teacher and a 40-something stern faced male professor?¡­ Sea was enjoying it too so he saw no problem with it.

    ***

    Ices¡¯ hunch proved to be spot on. The things Sea talked about really were similar in essence to a certain type of game Ice was very familiar with ¨C MMORPGs.

    Classes greatly resembled common job classes in a number of traditional MMOs like ¡®Warrior¡¯ or ¡®Mage¡¯. There were, of course, corresponding skills a person can learn that were exclusive to their class. There were also common skills that people gain when they become an ¡®Initiate¡¯ ¨C sort of like the Novice or Beginner class in some MMOs.

    You become an Initiate either by submitting an application to the Class Qualification and Management Association (CQMA) and passing the preliminary interview or getting a letter of recommendation from a certified CQMA examiner in order to directly take the class change test. It sounded pretty formal and organized and was pretty similar to applying for a job back home.

    One major distinction, however, was the existence and overarching influence of ¡®The System¡¯.

    No one knew how exactly ¡®The System¡¯ came about but there are countless tales and speculations made. A popular tale was that long ago things like job classes didn¡¯t exist. However, people were plagued by a constant threat of dangerous and aggressive ¡®monsters¡¯.

    None of the weapons or armor they made was of any use. The most seasoned warriors were of absolutely no match to these foul creatures.

    But then, hope came in the form of ¡®beings¡¯ that descended from above; bringing with them knowledge that transcended anything the people had ever known. They taught the people how to use this knowledge to enable them to fight off the monster threat.

    They were revered as gods. But after some time, they suddenly disappeared without a trace; leaving behind their greatest legacy ¨C the birth of ¡®The System¡¯ and the advent of ¡®Job Classes¡¯.

    Pretty much, your standard fantasy MMORPG back story.

    This aforementioned ¡®System¡¯ is basically what allows people to change to a Class and has absolute authority over the entire process; including the eventual outcome.

    It was the one which ultimately decided the results of the class change test. There are even some instances when it grants you an entirely different class than the one you were gunning for.

    Say for example, a person who took the test was aiming to become a Warrior. He or she would take all the necessary steps and give the appropriate answers which pointed towards becoming one (the methods and answers have been already compiled since the test itself generally remained constant except for a few rare instances and are made available by guilds who are aiming for fresh recruits). But sometimes ¡®The System¡¯ would present an entirely different result such as granting Priest instead of Warrior.

    There are many speculations on why this happens. One that garnered the most attention theorized that there were hidden factors that were used by ¡®The System¡¯ to judge the aptitude of the person taking the test, and, by combining the aggregate scores from the test and these hidden factors, it would then assign the class it deemed the most suitable.

    As for what these hidden factors were ¨C they remain largely undetermined. Many are rumored though: build, disposition, sex, blood type, hobbies, ones favorite food, ones favorite catch phrase¡­ the list goes on and on.

    For some, this could be quite a bitter pill to swallow. It¡¯s a bit better for people back on Earth since they could still generally have a say on what they want to become (granting things like ¡®parents¡¯ don¡¯t get factored in). It wasn¡¯t always the case here. It was sometimes coldly pre-determined.

    Of course, this didn¡¯t always apply to everybody. The ratio for people who attain their coveted class and the people who don¡¯t were at about 70%-30%. Meaning, a majority of people still get what they want but an unlucky few would not.

    Unfortunately, Sea was of the latter category as she was aiming to become an ¡®Educator¡¯ but got something completely different (she hasn¡¯t disclosed what it was though, saying that it was ¡°pretty embarrassing¡±). She was apparently really depressed about it at first. But she, like many others, had come to accept it as an inevitability of life and moved on.

    One could still live a relatively good life without having a class. A person would just lack the various perks and abilities that come with having one.

    For example, one could still teach without having Educator as a class but will not have access convenient abilities such as the dreaded ¡°Commanding Attention¡± skill.

    Commanding Attention: Educator/Active ¨C [Ensures the complete and utter attention of the affected party in a set probability within a set time period. Number of affected persons, rate of success, duration and mana consumption varies with each level up. Not effective on medium, large and boss monsters. Some Beast Races are slightly resistant due to them having shorter attention spans than usual compared to humans.]

    Shuddering at the thought of possibly not being able to turn ones attention from a very boring lecture, Ice decided to call it a day for the crash course in El Fabula 101.

    Still overflowing with curiosity, Ice asked if he could go take a walk around the village to familiarize himself a bit. It was a nice morning and the air was crisp; which made it perfect for a walk. And seeing everything around him rendered anime style was a pretty novel feeling despite the weird circumstances.

    Sea readily agreed and offered to show him around and introduce him to the rest of the villagers.

    And so, Ice took the first step in exploring this unique and unfamiliar world.

    -El Fabula End-

    [1]Otaku ¨C Otaku (¤ª¤¿¤¯/¥ª¥¿¥¯?) is a Japanese term for people with obsessive interests, commonly the anime and manga fandom. It could refer to a number of other hobbies though. i.e. book otaku, film otaku, food otaku etc.

 Chapter 4: Maleena Village

    As soon as they stepped out of the porch, a young pair greeted Ice and Sea cheerfully.

    ¡°Hey there sis! We were just about to get you. You sure took your time tending to this guy while leaving our stomachs complaining. You¡¯re the one tasked to make breakfast you know.¡±

    ¡°You better hurry up with those sandwiches Sea. Father and the rest are already looking pretty bad.¡±

    It was a boy with spiky caramel colored hair and an older-sister type with similarly colored hair tied up into a neat ponytail.

    Judging from how they all resembled each other, Ice surmised they might be Seas siblings, or at least her cousins or close relatives.

    Sea made an apologetic smile, reached for a sandwich in the woven basket and gave it to the boy. ¡°Sorry Vee. It completely slipped my mind. Here you go Ein.¡±

    The boy hurriedly grabbed the sandwich and proceeded to take large bites out of it.

    ¡°Whoah! Premium Gran Sirius beef! It¡¯s great to have a sister with an above average paycheck huh. Mmm¡­ dash guhd¡­ *munch *munch¡±

    Sea raised an eyebrow and proceeded to scold the boy sternly.

    ¡°Ein! Eat with a little more tact. And what did I tell you about being picky? Stop removing the lettuce and properly eat your greens!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah. I know. Anyway sis, aren¡¯t you gonna introduce us?¡± The boy gestured to Ice with his chin.

    ¡°Oh, right! Ice, this is my little brother Ein and my older sister Veenah. Guys, this here¡¯s Ice.¡±

    ¡°Hi bro. Nice to meetcha! Names Ein. Hope we get along.¡±

    ¡°Hello there Mister Ice. I¡¯m Veenah Seyramour. You can just call me Vee. Pleased to make your acquaintance.¡±

    The boy, Ein, gave Ice a toothy grin and the older sister, Vee, slightly lifted the sides of her knee length skirt made a small curtsy. Ice replied with a smile of his own.

    ¡°Hello. It¡¯s nice to meet you too. I¡¯m Ice. Unfortunately I don¡¯t know much else about myself apart from my name.¡±

    ¡°___Lying so blatantly still feels really awkward¡­¡±

    Both Ein and Vee immediately gave genuine looks of concern after hearing about his supposed amnesia, which hurt Ices¡¯ conscience a bit. But at least, this sounded less crazy than someone arriving from another world. Probably.

    ¡°Man that must suck. But no worries; you can just stay here until you memory returns. My friends and I were the ones who found you passed out near the village entrance by the way. So we dragged you back here to get you patched up.¡±

    Ein gave a thumbs up and tried to console Ice.

    ¡°Really? Thank you very much for your kindness. But isn¡¯t that awfully nice treatment for someone who¡¯s practically a stranger?¡±

    ¡°Nah, don¡¯t sweat it. We¡¯re used to a lot of shady characters like you ending up here in Maleena. Must be that ¡®living in harmony¡¯ thing we have going on. Sides, if you really turned out to be a bad guy, Sea here¡¯ll see to it that you¡¯re dealt with no time flat! My sister¡¯s quite strong you know.¡±

    Ein gestured towards Sea with a hint of pride in his voice.

    ¡°___He must respect his sister a lot. Then again, lots of kids do.¡±

    Ein came up to him suddenly and poked him with his elbow with a mischievous smile on his face. ¡°¡­You know¡­ by the looks of it, you don¡¯t really seem to be such a bad guy. You even got Sea sticking around you so closely. Guess she must really like you huh? Hehehe.¡±

    Seas cheeks immediately flushed red and proceeded to shout at her brother to stop him from teasing them any further. ¡°Ein! Will you stop that! You¡¯re embarrassing me!¡±

    ¡°Oh boy! She¡¯s mad! Run for your lives!¡±

    ¡°Ein!!!¡±

    The sight of Sea blushing furiously while chasing Ein around was a pretty refreshing scene for Ice. He was an only child so he didn¡¯t quite get how it felt to have a sibling. And it reminded him of Tim and Lin¡­

    ¡°___I practically stood Lin up right?¡­ Wonder what she¡¯ll say when I get back¡­ She probably won¡¯t talk to me for a week huh¡­¡­. Like I know how to get home in the first place¡­¡±

    Ices¡¯ mood was slowly turning for the worse. He forgot all about it while engrossed in talking with Sea but he was reminded about the problems he had once again.

    ¡°Mister Ice? Is something wrong? You look awfully pale.¡±

    Vee noticed the change in Ices¡¯ mood and inquired worriedly.

    ¡°No. It¡¯s nothing. Guess I¡¯m still feeling a bit under the weather. I¡¯ll be fine after a light walk.¡±

    He put a stop to his depressing thoughts and smiled at Vee to ease her worries.

    ¡°Oh. Were you going to have a walk around the village with Sea? How about coming with us first. Most of the villagers are busy preparing the spring baths and facilities right now. Today¡¯s St. Leevans day so a lot of patrons who are having their holiday break are expected to come soon. We¡¯ll give you a quick tour and introduce you to the rest of the villagers.¡±

    More acquaintances = More chances to gather relevant info. Ice decided to go along with the invitation.

    ¡°That would be great. Please lead the way.¡±

    ¡°Alright then. Right this way please. Sea, Ein let¡¯s get going! Father¡¯ll be close to passing out if we don¡¯t deliver those sandwiches soon.¡±

    ¡°Be right there! Come here you little rascal!¡±

    ¡°Ow! Watch the hair! Took me ages to fix it¡­ Coming sis!¡±

    And so, Ice accompanied the siblings and headed together with them to the village entrance.

    ***

    The holiday air was definitely up as various decorations were being set up to liven up the place. Apparently, St. Leevans Day was El Fabulas rough equivalent of Valentines Day, and they¡¯re expecting lots of couples to flock to the village for some R&R and maybe a bit of steamy outdoor ¡®activities¡¯ *wink *wink¡­

    The villagers were quite used to it and prided themselves with protecting the guests privacy. Although some people do attempt to sneak in to take some covert voyeur mana-vision recordings (this worlds¡¯ version of video), they are easily dealt with by the village patrol.

    The problem starts when the villagers themselves get involved in these shady incidents. But nothing really major has happened because the village elders were quick to crush such attempts too. Ein confessed to trying to peek for a bit sometime ago (much to Seas chagrin) but he and his cohorts were caught and were confined to their rooms for a week.

    ***

    Finally arriving at the main reception building where the siblings parents were, the group was immediately greeted by a tall, blonde haired [1]bishounen.

    ¡°Sea! I was waiting for those sandwiches of yours! I¡¯m just about close to empty here. I wont be able to welcome the guests properly if you took any longer you know!¡±

    ¡°Ehehe. Sorry father. Here you go. Don¡¯t eat it in one go! Chew slowly.¡± Sea giggled cutely as she handed some sandwiches to the blonde bishounen she called ¡®father¡¯. Ice was a little taken aback by that sudden info.

    ¡°___Father? You¡¯re telling me he¡¯s the father?! But he¡¯s a bishoune¡­ Eh, wait a minute. I keep forgetting this is an anime world. This is a common trope¡­ Yep, nothing strange here¡­¡±

    While Ice was having his internal otaku monolougue, the blonde bishounen suddenly approached and stared intently at him while releasing massive amounts of ¡®pressure¡¯.

    Ice felt like a frog suddenly cornered by a snake! He was frozen stiff and truly felt he was close to passing out from all the pressure! What intense [2]Haki!!!

    ¡°Father! You¡¯re making Ice uncomfortable! He¡¯s just recovered you know!¡±

    The bishounens expression suddenly changed from that of a predator to that of a doting parent and looked at her daughter with a warm smile. ¡°¡­ Sorry dear. Father was just sizing this gentleman up a bit. It¡¯s not like my gaze is deadly you know. Ahahahahaha!¡±

    ¡°___No, that pressure was nothing to laugh at! I seriously stopped breathing for a moment! It¡¯s deadly Father! It¡¯s most certainly deadly!!!¡±

    ¡°Aaaaah¡­¡±

    He suddenly turned to Ice again, changing his expression once more to a look that every [3]Yankee would be proud of. It seems he picked up Ices¡¯ internal monologue via his [4]Father Counter and responded accordingly.

    ¡°Hiii!¡±

    ¡°Father!!!¡±

    ¡°¡­No, forgive me¡­ I just felt like some impertinent brat dared to call me Father¡­¡±

    ¡°___The heck is up with that sixth sense?!¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­Sorry kid. The name¡¯s Alphonse Seyramour. I¡¯m the father of this lovely lot. Pleased to meet you.¡±

    ¡°Err¡­ Pleased to meet you too sir. My name¡¯s Ice. I can¡¯t really tell you much about myself since I have amnesia so¡­¡±

    ¡°Amnesia huh?¡­ You sure you got amnesia kid? Cause it sure doesn¡¯t look like the case to me¡­¡±

    ¡°Father! What¡¯s going on? That¡¯s not like you!¡±

    ¡°¡­..Sorry dear. If you think he¡¯s okay then I¡¯ll trust you. Let¡¯s get along kid.¡±

    ¡°Tha-thank you sir!¡±

    Alphonse extended his hand out in a gesture of a handshake so Ice took it with some slight hesitation.

    ¡°Alright then. Why don¡¯t we all go inside and introduce Ice to the rest of the villagers. We need to deliver these sandwiches too.¡±

    Vee hurried the group along and,as Ice followed, Alphonse suddenly put his arm over Ices¡¯ back and whispered something to him.

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna trust Sea on this for now but if I see you make a move on any of my daughters I swear I¡¯m gonna take your *beep and shove it up your *beep, hang you at the village entrance and feed you to the crows! Understand?!¡±

    ¡°Ye-yes siiiiir!¡±

    Ice just managed a panicked reply while feeling like he was beside a really hungry tiger raring to tear him apart at the slightest chance.

    ¡°Good. I think we¡¯ll just get along swimmingly kid! Ahahahahaha!¡±

    It¡¯s only been a short time since he came here but Ice already felt his life was in mortal peril.

    ***

    Inside was a whirlwind of activity. Various people were going about doing different kinds of work. Some were putting on decorations all over the interior (mostly colorful flowers of different kinds shaped into wreaths, bunched up and put on vases, and lined up on top of walls and wooden beams).

    Some were busy cleaning the rooms and shining the walls and floors. They were also bringing in different food ingredients such as fish, meat and fresh vegetables to what could only be the kitchen; judging from the smell wafting over from inside.

    At the center of all the activity was a woman, who could only be described as beautiful, taking the lead and directing all the work being done.

    ¡°Mom, we brought the sandwiches!¡±

    ¡°___Mom?¡­.. Why am I not surprised¡­¡±

    Ice widened his eyes a bit in mild surprise but realized that this much was standard considering the father and just shrugged it off. One could actually easily grasp the resemblance between her and the siblings; Sea being the one who resembles her mother the most.

    ¡°___Guess she¡¯ll become quite the woman after a couple of years. I kinda get where the dad was coming from now¡­¡±

    Seas mom made a cute, pouting expression, put both her hands on her hips and greeted her family back.

    ¡°Well it¡¯s about time you got here. What took you so long anyway? Even I¡¯m feeling a bit hungry now with things being this busy.¡±

    ¡°Ehehe. Sorry mother. I was just making sure Ice was okay and lost track of the time.¡±

    ¡°Ice? Oh is he that young man over there? The one Ein and the boys brought over?¡±

    The lady looked at eyes with a curious expression and inquired.

    ¡°Yes. Ice, this is our mother, Romany Seyramour.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you ma¡¯am. My name is Ice.¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s nice to meet you too young man. If you don¡¯t mind me asking though, why exactly were you lying passed out near the village entrance? An accident perhaps? Or, heavens, was it monsters?¡±

    ¡°Err¡­ you see¡­ about that¡­¡±

    As Ice was troubled over how to respond (he still felt awkward with lying about his condition) Ein gave a timely leg up.

    ¡°Ice has amnesia mom! He says he can¡¯t remember anything apart from his name.¡±

    ¡°Oh my! Really? It must quite be terrible. You¡¯re not injured are you?¡±

    ¡°Thankfully, that doesn¡¯t seem to be the case ma¡¯am. It¡¯s just¡­ my memory¡­¡±

    ¡°I see. Well, at least you¡¯re not hurt. You can just stay here in the village until your memory returns. Give it time dear. I¡¯m sure everything will come back to you eventually.¡¯

    Mrs. Romany smiled gently and patted Ice on the shoulder.

    ¡°¡­Thank you for your kind offer ma¡¯am.¡±

    She laughed softly as she continued smiling at Ice. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so formal with me dear. Romany would be fine.¡±

    ¡°Err¡­ I¡¯m sorry but that¡¯s a bit¡­¡±

    Ice was constantly feeling massive killing intent leaking out from behind him. He didn¡¯t have to turn around to find out who was releasing it.

    ¡°Right then! Let¡¯s get those sandwiches to the others. I¡¯m sure everyone¡¯s missed eating the food you make Sea. It even makes me a little jealous how much they adore you.¡± Mrs. Romany gestured for the group to enter the interior of the building (which apparently served as the main Inn on the village) and teased her daughter with a wry smile.

    ¡°Mother! It¡¯s not like my cooking¡¯s anything special.¡±

    ¡°No, I think the one you¡¯re marrying in the future would be absolutely addicted to your food dear. You sure know how to get them. Right in the stomach! Is that what you¡¯ve been learning in the capital?¡±

    ¡°Mother!¡±

    ¡°Alright, alright. My daughter sure is cute when she¡¯s teased huh Ice.¡±

    ¡°Err¡­ Yes. I think.¡±

    Romany gave Ice a light teasing smile and Sea had her head down with her ears going bright red.

    ***

    Everyone was going crazy over Seas sandwiches. It was like the ¡°high school cafeteria lunch time rush¡± Ice kept seeing in various animes and mangas. Some were even crying tears of joy while eating.

    ¡°It¡¯s the sandwich the young lady makes! I can die happy now!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating Mr. Galen. No one would want that to happen to the villages number one handyman. And besides, you¡¯re still young. You just turned forty five recently haven¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°No young lady. I¡¯m saying this sandwich is to die for. Why can¡¯t my wife¡¯s cooking be this good? Is this the difference between the food made by a cute young lady and a woman past her prime?¡±

    ¡°I heard that you old fool! You¡¯ll be eating nothing but wild grass if you keep that up!¡±

    Boisterous laughter echoed from everyone present.

    The one eating his sandwich with great relish while heaping praise on Sea was Mr. Galen Gilford, Maleenas senior capenter and handyman. His wife, Mrs. Elsa Gilford, was the head chef of the village inn so Mr. Galens banter was just good natured teasing.

    Both of them have advanced Job Classes (Foreman and Chef de Cuisine) so they¡¯re really good at doing their jobs.

    Practically everybody in the village was involved in running their prided natural spring spa resort in some way. Even the children help out and quite a few apprentice themselves to some of the veteran staff. Not all of them have proper Classes but that doesn¡¯t seem to be a big deal here.

    Ice was introduced to all the people present at the site and most of them were very friendly and welcoming.

    Some of the younger men (and a few of the girls) weren¡¯t so keen in accepting him so readily. Apparently they were mostly members of the Seyramour Family Fan Club (SFFC), The Committee for the Appreciation and Preservation of Purity (TCAPP), the Eins Big Sisters Club, the Married Men are So Hot Club and MILFs Inc.(the latter three are little too direct in expressing their preferences in Ices¡¯ humble opinion).

    ¡°___Ahaha¡­ Another common trope. Somehow, this isn¡¯t so funny when it¡¯s actually happening to you huh¡­¡±

    Some of the guys were already discreetly readying black robes and full face hoods with large eye holes. There was even a human sized stake¡­

    ¡°___No wait. This maybe as common as it gets but that¡¯s still a bit overkill! Give me a break here! The anime world is dangerous! I¡¯m sorry for always laughing at you [5]Akihisa! You got it rough man!¡±

    Making a mental note never to walk into somewhere like a secluded corner alone while inside the village, Ice made a resigned shrug and prepared for the worst.

    ¡°You making yourself at home kid? Don¡¯t worry about a thing! This village is like that. You¡¯ll be part of the family in no time!¡±

    Mr. Findor Alleron, the one running the village store, stated slapping Ices¡¯ back with a little too much enthusiasm, almost making him double over and fall face first to the floor.

    Apparently, he was also not a local and found his way here after being scammed by a fellow Merchant whom he really trusted as they¡¯ve practically started out together after changing classes and joining the same trade guild.

    Mr. Alphonse (who was actually the village head and the resorts chief administrator) welcomed him with open arms, and now, he¡¯s making a living by manning the village store and selling both daily necessities for the rest of the villagers and souvenirs (like the patented Original Maleena Spring Water!) to the resorts patrons.

    He really empathized with Ice because of their slightly similar circumstances and went out of his way to make him feel welcome. It touched him a bit (Just a bit though. No, really!¡­).

    He did wonder why a lot of them referred to him as ¡®kid¡¯ though.

    ¡°___Does my current appearance really look so young? I can¡¯t really tell. Anime characters ages are really hard to determine¡­¡±

    In the end, Ice decided to just go with the flow since it honestly wasn¡¯t all that inconvenient for him. Besides, becoming young again should normally be a good thing right?

    ***

    Ice really liked the atmosphere of Maleena. Everyone was bright and friendly and their good cheer was both magnetic and infectious. It strongly reminded him of his home towns local [6]fiesta celebrations.

    So much so that he decided to settle down a little and put off his goal of information gathering at a later time as he wanted to soak himself in the festive air just a bit more. It was really nostalgic.

    After everybody finished their meals, Mrs. Romany gave out some quick instructions.

    ¡°Alright everyone! Since we¡¯ve already eaten and got our spirits and energies back, I want you lot to use that to completely finish the preparations before the guests start coming in! Hop to it then! We don¡¯t have much time!¡±

    ¡°Yes madam!¡±

    ¡°Right away ma¡¯am!¡±

    ¡°I will carry out thy decree empress!¡±

    ¡°Please take my soul mistress!!!¡±

    ¡°You know¡­ it would just be perfect if Romany had a whip and wore high heels¡­¡±

    Except for some rather questionable replies, everyone generally expressed their enthusiasm with renewed vigor and started to go back to their respective tasks.

    ¡°Um, ma¡¯am¡­ I kinda feel bad for being the only one who¡¯s not working so could I help out a bit too?¡±

    ¡°Oh! Well we are kind of short on hands at the moment because Mr. Halter¡¯s having hemorrhoids again but¡­ Are you sure you an handle it Ice? You¡¯re not pushing yourself are you?¡±

    ¡°No ma¡¯am. I feel perfectly fine. I can handle it.¡±

    ¡°Alright then. Go help out on cleaning the indoor bath. Ein is assigned there too. You can join up with him.¡±

    ¡°Thank you ma¡¯am. Right away!¡±

    ¡°Well aren¡¯t you the eager beaver *giggle. Get to it then.¡±

    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am!¡±

    Imitating a military salute, Ice went to find Ein and both of them proceeded to the indoor bath area.

    ***

    ¡°Is everybody here?¡±

    ¡°Yes Comrade ¡®E¡¯. Comrade ¡®Z¡¯ and Comrade ¡®H¡¯ couldn¡¯t come because of extenuating circumstances but most of the others are present and accounted for.¡±

    ¡°Mm¡­ It can¡¯t be helped. Let us begin then. But first I shall introduce you to our newest recruit; Comrade ¡®I¡¯. Say hello ¡®I¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Err¡­ hello all¡­¡±

    ¡®I¡¯ greeted the other members with a slightly twitching smile. They welcomed him readily and patted his shoulders in affirmation.

    ¡°Welcome Comrade. Glad to have you within our ranks.¡±

    Somehow, after arriving at the indoor bath, Ice was suddenly dragged into a secret society(?) meeting!

    ¡°Comrades! The time has finally come! We have been accosted by many failures and heartbreaks. But this time¡­ this time surely, the Goddess of Victory shall smile upon us.

    We have been training and planning relentlessly for this moment! And now is the time to put it all to the test. We have the latest tools, the greatest of allies and the heart to see it through.

    For our fathers and our forefathers who came before them! Today we shall finally gaze upon paradise!!!¡±

    ¡°___I think I already know where this is going¡­¡± Ice thought as he had an incredibly strong hunch as to where the direction of this meeting was heading.

    ¡°Comrade F! Are the ¡®tools¡¯ prepared¡¯?¡±

    ¡°Yes comrade. They¡¯re good and ready.¡±

    ¡°Comrade G! Is the secret infiltration point secure?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just perfect! No one¡¯ll suspect a thing.¡±

    ¡°Alright. We commence the operation tonight. Our target is Lady Melva Hollcroft and her retinue ¨C a member of the prestigious Hollcroft family; the rumored number one beauty in Ricksvale (arguably the world) and her bevy of beautiful body guards.

    They will be arriving at exactly 1500 hours later today and will be scheduled to use the VIP spring bath by 1900. I want all of us assembled at point Alpha at exactly 1800 hours for final checks.

    Make sure not to take any actions that stand out until that time and make doubly sure no one notices or tails you when you depart. Finish all important tasks assigned as fast as possible and ready your excuses for turning in or taking breaks early.

    It will be suspicious to have a lot of people suddenly disappear so follow the ¡®randomized¡¯ schedule we¡¯ve discussed during our previous meet. I will be in charge of fully briefing Comrade ¡®I¡¯ on the exact details of the plan.

    Is everything clear?!¡±

    ¡°Sir, yes sir!¡±

    ¡°Good. Dismissed!¡±

    ¡°___As I thought¡­ This really is¡­¡± Ice mentally facepalmed and wondered just how he was roped into this silly mess.

    And so begins preparations for the obligatory ¡®attempted peeking on beautiful women taking a bath in a hot spring¡¯ scene.

    ***

    When evening came, a group of rowdy young men (and some who were young at heart) finally gathered at an unassuming spot a couple meters behind the VIP bath.

    ¡°Do you hear that men? That is the sound of goddesses frolicking in paradise! Do you feel your passion rising? Can you feel your hearts throbbing?¡±

    ¡°Sir, I¡¯m not so sure about ¡®passion¡¯ and ¡®heart¡¯ but something is definitely rising and throbbing¡­¡±

    ¡°Too much info comrade. Anyway, make sure everything is good to go. We will commence the operation soon.¡±

    ¡°Sir, yes sir!¡±

    Ein was busy motivating the other guys with his impassioned remarks as the main organizer and leader of the group. And he was damn good at it too.

    ¡°___What the heck is with this kid? The power of adolescence?¡±

    Ice was impressed despite himself. Although he wasn¡¯t really sure if he really should be impressed about this kind of thing.

    Mr. Findor (Comrade ¡®F¡¯) then arrived after a short while along with the anticipated ¡®tools¡¯ and lined them up on the ground. The rest of they guys faces lit up in glee.

    ¡°Here are the ¡®Shared Vision¡¯, ¡®Memory Extraction¡¯ and ¡®Memory Transfer¡¯ scrolls you ordered.¡±

    Shared Vision allows people to ¡®share¡¯ what each individual was seeing with each other. It was limited to two people so concessions have been made and each squad leader (five all in all) assigned one of his most trusted subordinates to act as ¡®secondary sight¡¯ while they themselves acted as ¡®primary¡¯.

    Memory Extraction and Memory Transfer scrolls did exactly what their names indicated and allowed the extraction and transfer of a particular memory. This will be what allows the rest of the group to view the memories of those who successfully infiltrate the bath, and thus, satisfy those who were unfortunate enough not to make it.

    The plan relied heavily on human wave tactics as they¡¯ve already experienced countless failures and thus decided to use strength of numbers to overcome the overwhelming odds.

    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    These scrolls all sounded like they¡¯d break an individuals right to privacy and Ice was later told that they are actually only used by the military for various covert operations (official or otherwise) or to interrogate spies. As for how Mr. Findor exactly got a hold of them; Ice was told his sources were ¡®classified¡¯.

    ¡°___Just how crazy dedicated are these guys to the pursuit of eroticism?! They even got some of the adults participating. Geez¡­¡±

    As Ice was busy having another mental facepalm, Ein gestured for the group to be at a ready.

    ¡°Alright men. This is it! This will be a day of vindication! This will be a day of celebration! What is beyond those walls? Paradise! Go on! Take it, it¡¯s yours!!!¡±

    Uttering some lines vaguely resembling one from a Hollywood movie, Ein ordered the start of the operation.

    And a mad dash for the VIP bath walls commenced.

    ***

    Not long after the start of the operation, casualties already appeared.

    ¡°Guwaaaah!!!! What the¡­. A whirlwind is¡­ aaaaaah!!!¡­¡­..¡±

    ¡°Comrade!!! Dammit all! Do not falter! Forward! Forwar¡­.. Gaaaaaah!!!¡±

    ¡°Nichols! Damn. Mom really went all out! Those are elemental mines!¡±

    ¡°Elemental mines?¡±

    Ice, who found himself just going with the flow, was running beside Ein; feeling really regretful he didn¡¯t opt out of this crazy stunt when he had the chance.

    ¡°Yep. These are mines infused by a Mages primary spells. They¡¯re used in military operations. Although these seem like they¡¯ve been specially tuned to be non-lethal.¡±

    Ice then saw a guy being flashily blown up by a fire explosion.

    ¡°You call that non-lethal?!!!¡±

    ¡°Yeah. You¡¯ll be hurt pretty bad though. A few broken bones. Anything from a week to a full month for recovery. Like I said, non-lethal. It ain¡¯t so bad as last years.¡±

    ¡°___What the hell happened last year?!!! This isn¡¯t good. At this rate I¡¯ll be suffering the same fate as the guys from [7]Fumoffu! Come to think of it, I may look like an anime character now but I don¡¯t really know if I can take as much punishment as those guys take on an episodic basis! If I get hit, there¡¯s no guarantee I won¡¯t actually die!!!¡±

    As Ice was busy trying to avert his own personal life crisis, another danger shot out from within the shadows of the trees.

    ¡°Eh¡­ Arrrrg!¡­¡±

    Ein immediately went on guard after seeing some of their companions fall after being hit by small wooden bolts. ¡°They prepared Paralysis Bolts too! Careful of the surrounding trees Ice! If they hit you, you¡¯ll be out for days if they don¡¯t decide to use Clear Status or Paralysis Salves on you. I did have Mr. Findor prepare some salves just in case but it¡¯s better not to get hit after all.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me that! Waaaah!¡±

    Ice was barely avoiding the small arrows shooting out from the forest by the skin of his teeth. He had to thank his experience playing badminton for honing his kinetic vision enough to just barely avoid the bolts. He still looked really desperate though.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything to ensure we got to the goal safely?! Didn¡¯t you plan this for months? Like wooden shields and armor or something? Mr. Galen could¡¯ve built those with no trouble right?¡±

    ¡°You know what? That might¡¯ve just worked! I¡¯m glad my eyes didn¡¯t deceive me Comrade ¡®I¡¯!¡±

    ¡°NOW¡¯S NOT THE TIME TO BE IMPRESSED!!!¡±

    ¡°Now, now. I was just honestly praising your mental acuity comrade. No need to shout.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯M SAYING THIS ISN¡¯T THE TIME TO DO THAAAAT!!!¡±

    Ice was getting fed up by the absurdity of it all and was close to completely losing his cool. Then, an idea struck him.

    ¡°Wait, I know! Skills! Don¡¯t some of you have Job Classes? Is there anyone whose Skills can be used? Like an Agility buff or something?¡±

    Ein made a slightly embarrassed face and answered while scratching the back of his head.

    ¡°Most of the village guards focused on Active Skills like Power Blow so I don¡¯t really think they have something like that in their Skill Tree. And the others are non-combat related Classes like Mr. Galens ¡®Foreman¡¯ or Mr. Findors ¡®Store Manager¡¯ classes. And also, I¡¯m a Monk so¡­¡±

    ¡°MONK! You mean the martial arts type monk right?! You must have something!¡­¡±

    Ice didn¡¯t really have the leeway to do a straight man retort about exactly how a pre-teener like Ein achieved the Monk Class (which was actually an Intermediate Class you only gain at Level 50 from what he remembered from Seas lecture) and so he let it pass, but made a mental note on asking Ein about it later.

    ¡°Err¡­ no, not exactly. I didn¡¯t invest in Agility at all hehe. There¡¯s also no way I have an Agility buff.¡±

    ¡°The Acolyte Class had one right?! An Agility buff I mean. You¡¯re not telling me you didn¡¯t bother to unlock it!¡±

    ¡°Err¡­ yeah. Never did. Sorry.¡±

    ¡°WHAT THE HECK DID YOU INVEST ON THEN?!¡± Ice made an incredulous expression and asked with a shout.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious! When you say Monk, you think ¡®martial arts¡¯. Martial arts is basically just going all out and socking your opponents to submission. If you really want to pound em down to the ground you¡¯d have to have power. So I invested almost all my points on Strength and powerful Active Skills like Compressed Chi Shot and Raging Blows! Pretty cool right?¡±

    After his bold declaration, Ein flashed a glittering smile and gave a thumbs up.

    ¡°___No! That¡¯s just far too unbalanced! You¡¯re like the very definition of a glass cannon!!!¡±

    *On a side note, you gain APs (Ability Points) and SPs (Stat Points) each level up. APs are used to unlock the various skills of a particular Job Class. The APs one can gain are limited so you really need to plan ahead and think of what skills will synergize with your individual style the most and unlock those.

    The skills that are unlocked level up separately by repeated use. And sometimes, if you max one out, other skills will appear in the skill tree for you to unlock.

    SPs are used to increase you basic parameters like Agility and Strength. Like APs, the maximum SP gained per person is fixed (but some unconfirmed reports say that the maximum ceiling can vary from person to person). These need to be allocated carefully. A build that doesn¡¯t mesh well with one¡¯s class or skills would have a really hard time to say the least.

    ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t expect you to be such a power idiot¡­¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with being a power idiot?! Besides, there¡¯s something much more important than stats when it comes down to it!¡±

    ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡­¡±

    ¡°GUTS!!!¡±

    Ein answered without hesitation, made a fist pump and flashed on of his glittering smiles again.

    ¡°___Damn you anime/manga/LN logic!!!¡­¡±

    As Ice was fighting to prevent an aneurysm while desperately dodging magic explosions and paralyzing darts, Ein suddenly cried out strongly, warning the others.

    ¡°Alright! It¡¯s the main event guys! Let¡¯s give it our all!¡±

    ¡°Yeah!!!¡±

    The others who survived (not that many) raised a cry in response, despite their injuries.

    ¡°Main event?! You mean there¡¯s more?!!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the greatest obstacle to our goal! Brace yourself Ice! Here it comes!¡±

    *THUD *THUD

    The sound of heavy foot steps approached. A large shadow appeared from above the tree line and headed straight for them.

    ¡°Here it is! Maleenas private Wood Golem!!!¡±

    ¡°GOOOOOOLEEEEEMMM!!!!!¡±

    Ice screamed in panic.

    ***

    The Wood Golem proceeded to make short work of the remaining men. Ice was getting paler and paler (than he already is) by the second while Ein was grinning wildly while pump-fisting.

    ¡°C¡¯mon ya big lump of lumber! Come at me!¡±

    He actively taunted the monster and motioned for it to hurry up and attack.

    ¡°No wait! Wasn¡¯t the plan to avoid all obstacles? Shouldn¡¯t we be running away from that thing?!¡±

    ¡°The heck are you talking about? This was always the plan. We run like heck, hope for the best, and I dispatch this lunkhead to open the path.¡±

    ¡°WHAT KIND OF PLAN IS THAAAAAT?!!!¡±

    ¡°No worries man! I¡¯ll be done in a bit. Seeiyaah!!!¡±

    Ein suddenly took off and ran straight for the golem.

    Ice was taken by surprise by Eins sudden action and only had a blank expression on his face for a moment before reacting in panic.

    ¡°___You know¡­ for someone who didn¡¯t invest in Agility, he sure looks fast¡­ nothat¡¯snotit!!! He¡¯s heading straight for disaster!!!¡±

    But, contrary to Ices¡¯ expectations, Ein was skillfully dodging the golems blows by a hairs breadth, and getting in some hits himself.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? That the best you can do? You¡¯re too slow moron!¡±

    Ein was running circles around the golem and methodically chipping away at its HP. He wasn¡¯t exactly all that fast, but it seemed like he could predict all the golems actions and acted accordingly, allowing him to dodge all of the golems blows.

    ¡°Teiyaaah! Seeeiyaaah! Toryaaaah!!!¡±

    Ein was unleashing a virtual storm of punches and kicks mixed up with some powerful offensive skills.

    *Skills placed on a *hotkey menu can be used even without saying its name out loud as the user just had to focus on executing a particular skill in his or her head and it will automatically commence.

    There are exceptions though; like the advanced spells used by magic classes which required a particular chant. They¡¯d have to learn a particular skill (Unincanted Spellcasting) to execute a spell without the chant and it¡¯s requirements were steep as it¡¯s one of those skills you have to unlock via a (particularly difficult) quest. People who attained this skill are considered to be the creme de la creme between magic classes and are few and far between.

    Ein eventually brought down the golems HP in half and it entered the ¡®Enraged¡¯ status. Some Boss and Mini-boss class monsters had this particular trait which sacrificed their defense for, sometimes, overwhelming attack or access to extra powerful skills. Ein braced himself and got into a ready position; seemingly wanting to end the fight too.

    ¡°Alright lunkhead! Let¡¯s finish this!¡±

    ¡°HUUUUUURRRR¡­. (Bring it on, you little mite. I¡¯m gonna squash you flat! This time for sure I¡¯m gonna get the mistress to praise me!)¡±

    The golem, in turn, let out a menacing roar.

    The air was tense. Both Ein and the golem were un-moving. A small impetus could spur either into action. Ice audibly gulped, affected by the atmosphere.

    And then¡­

    ¡°HAAAAAAAAH!!! (I¡¯M GOING TO SMASH YOU TO PIECES YOU OVERGROWN LUMP OF FIREWOOD! @$%*%$^%*%*!)¡±

    ¡°HRRRRUUUUUUAAAAA!!! (#@@$%$##%^#%^#$%#%#%#%!)¡±

    Both unleashed their respective attacks almost simultaneously, mentally uttering profane obscenities all the while (there seemed to be quite a history between the two).

    Ein unleashed his most powerful skill, Raging Spirit Fist [Lvl. 5] and the golem countered with its exclusive skill Rock Hard Wooden Strike [Lvl. 6].

    *Tamed and construct monsters, such as the Wood Golem, were also able to learn and level up skills. The skills were either directly managed by their masters or are unlocked and equipped automatically. Generally, the rarer and/or more powerful the tamed or created monster, the greater the freedom when it comes to managing their parameters. Thus, monsters judged to have great potential were highly coveted.

    It seemed that because of the longer reach, Wood Golems attack would hit Ein first. But Ein waited until the last second and barely dodged the downward straight, seizing the opening to deliver a powerful, chi filled uppercut directly to the golems gut(?) and instantly bringing down its HP to zero.

    *The Wood Golem is a construct monster contracted to Mrs. Romany Seyramour, so even if its HP hits zero, it won¡¯t die. As long as the master has sufficient mana and is in good health, the construct monster will respawn after a few minutes of cool down time. In Golems case, five minutes.

    ¡°UUUUURRR¡­.. (Dammit brat, you¡¯ve gotten good¡­)¡±

    ¡°Heh, you¡¯re not half bad yourself¡­¡±

    ***

    Both Ein and the golem were lying down on the ground limply. Ice rushed to Eins side to check his condition.

    ¡°Hey, are you okay? You didn¡¯t get hit too did you?¡±

    ¡°No, I was able to dodge just fine. It¡¯s just that Raging Spirit Fist, in addition to draining a massive amount of MP, also paralyzes the user. You can¡¯t cure it with a Salve and it lasts for a full 3 minutes. Even then, I¡¯m utterly spent so I¡¯m guessing I won¡¯t be able to move around much even if I recover from paralysis¡­¡±

    ¡°That was extremely reckless then! What good did defeating this thing do if you can¡¯t fulfill your goal?!¡±

    ¡°Heh, you don¡¯t get it yet? Why¡¯d you think I let you join us and stuck close to you during the operation? You don¡¯t have a Class yourself and were pretty much useless all throughout.¡±

    ¡°Then WHY?!¡±

    ¡°¡­..It¡¯s your welcoming party Ice, your initiation. You¡¯re now officially part of Maleena village and of the Society for Cultivating a Healthy Interest In the Opposite Sex, more popularly known as the Ecchi Society¡­

    Now go! Fulfill our greatest desire! It looks like Mom has set up a barrier that renders any scouting spell or scroll useless so the Shared Sight scroll is no longer an option.

    Luckily, the memory scrolls do not need to be activated on site to take effect. We can just wait until this commotion dies down to share your memories of paradise with everyone who sacrificed themselves for glory today¡­ ¡°

    Ice glances back to the others. Pretty much everyone apart from him has already been knocked out.

    ¡°Comrade¡­¡±

    Ice, getting carried away by the atmosphere clenches his fist in frustration and new found determination.

    ¡°Alright¡­ I¡¯ll fulfill everyone¡¯s dreams for you. I¡¯ll do it!¡±

    ¡°Good. Comrade G¡­ The secret infiltration point¡­¡±

    ¡°Third plank from the left¡­ Push it forward¡­ Hidden door I made¡­¡­ Password is¡­ Dreams of Youth¡­¡­ Ugh¡­¡±

    ¡°Comrade G!¡­ He¡¯s out¡­ It¡¯s all up to you Ice¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m going¡­¡±

    As Ice turned away and started to walk towards the left side of the wooden wall, Ein looked on with eyes filled with emotion.

    ¡°With this¡­ Father¡­ Our dream¡­¡±

    And he surrendered to exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep.

    ***

    ¡°Okay! Third plank from the left¡­ found it.¡±

    After Ice used the password, a gap appeared on the wall and spread out to form a small secret door; just enough to let a person through. Ice hurriedly went inside and was immediately accosted with a huge amount of steam; clouding his vision.

    Ice hesitated a bit after calming down somewhat thanks to the steam.

    ¡°___Wait¡­ Why am I going along with all this crazy nonsense?! It hasn¡¯t been a day since I came to this world and I¡¯m already in the process of becoming a certified sexual offender!!! What the heck came over me?! Aren¡¯t protagonists or two-bit side characters usually the ones who get caught up in this kind of stuff?! Which one am I anyway?¡­¡±

    After a bit of pointless monologue while trying to wrestle with his inner conscience, Ice eventually decided to bite the proverbial bullet and try to stay out of sight while looking for an opportunity to get out of the steamy danger zone he was currently in ¨C preferably in one piece.

    That and, maybe, get a glimpse of some naked beauties while he¡¯s at it. He¡¯s already gone this far so why not right?

    He proceeded to place himself behind some large rocks lining a part of the wall that offered a wide enough vantage point of the bath area while giving him enough leeway to immediately jump towards the thick clump of bushes if anyone got too close for comfort and forced him to abandon his current position.

    Satisfied with this arrangement, Ice proceeded to focus his gaze toward the central area of the VIP bath (which was luxurious enough to deserve the term VIP) as the steam was gradually clearing up.

    ¡°___Hookay then¡­ Let¡¯s see if this place really deserves to be called ¡®paradise¡¯ shall we¡­¡±

    He was so focused (eyes bloodshot, nostrils flaring up); he failed to notice that someone was already directly behind him.

    ¡°Well now, what do we have here? What exactly are you doing, hiding behind these rocks young man?¡±

    ¡°Waaah!¡±

    A soft, serene voice gently inquired from behind him; startling Ice and making him fall butt-first on the hard granite tiled floor.

    ¡°Oh dear, are you alright young man? I seem to have given you quite the fright.¡±

    Bell like laughter echoed through Ices¡¯ ears and, as he slowly turned his gaze up towards the owner of the voice, he was confronted by THE most gorgeous woman he ever laid eyes on so far.

    She had long, straight, jet black hair that slightly shimmered because of the water droplets sticking to it from coming right out of the bath. It was like the night sky ¨C glittering magnificently; adorned by a multitude shining of stars.

    Her figure could only be described as ¡°divine¡±; like an extremely well crafted piece created by a true master.

    Her well featured face was mesmerizing. So much so that Ice felt he could have stared at her all night and never get tired of it.

    Her every gesture carried such an aura of grace and beauty that they made Ices¡¯ heart go on overdrive.

    Add all this to the fact that she was currently standing in front of him in all of her naked majesty; without even a small towel covering her pristine white skin.

    So it was pretty much OHKO for Ices¡¯ ¡°brain.exe¡±. He was tethering on the brink of falling to the ¡°point of no return¡±.

    ¡°Hehee. What¡¯s wrong young man? Did I really surprise you that much?¡±

    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am!¡­ I mean, no ma¡¯am!¡­ No that¡¯s not it!¡­¡­ Uuuuuh¡­.¡±

    Ice was totally dumbstruck. He didn¡¯t even think it was possible for him to be this captivated by a woman. By a 2D anime character looking woman no less.

    Ice was an otaku but he really didn¡¯t really consider himself too far gone that he could only see 2D women as cute or beautiful. Was coming to this world the turning point? Or did he always have this tendency and just didn¡¯t acknowledge it?

    No, there was ¡°something¡± with this woman that transcended all concepts of beauty. He had this nagging feeling that even if she was turned into a ¡°real¡± 3D woman, he would¡¯ve still been totally captivated by her.

    She laughed softly once more and smiled enchantingly at him. ¡°Look, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re having the time of your life right now but I think you better go. It seems they¡¯re coming back¡±

    Ice heard the cheerful voices of several girls just behind the wooden sliding door.

    ¡°You better get out of here young man. Those girls may look nice but they have particularly nasty tempers. Worst case, they might decide to cut ¡°it¡± off if they catch you in here.¡±

    Ice gulped audibly, realizing the implied meaning of ¡®It¡¯.

    ¡°You know¡­ your most treasured sword. Your ¡°Men¡¯s Club Member¡±. Your¡ª¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s quite enough, thank you!!!¡± Ice stopped her from going any further in panic. He wasn¡¯t quite sure why, but it greatly bothered him to hear such questionable euphemisms from the mouth of this bewitching beauty.

    ¡°Go on. Here, before they come in.¡±

    The woman gestured towards the opening on the wall and hurried him along.

    Ice shuddered at the thought of having his ¡°manhood¡± compromised and immediately went for the secret door to get out.

    As he got on all fours and crawled towards the opening, the woman suddenly hugged him from behind and, once again, sent his senses flying.

    As he was acting all flustered, the woman whispered lightly into his ear.

    ¡°Young man¡­ If you want to find out exactly what your purpose for being sent into this world is, hurry and come to the ¡®capital¡¯¡­¡±

    ¡°Eh?!¡­¡±

    And then, he was suddenly shoved out. For some reason, it felt really familiar.

    ***

    ¡°Hey wait! What exactly did you mean by that?!¡±

    Ice tumbled down the slope after unceremoniously being shoved out and was again trying to get in to no avail. The secret door was sealed shut and wouldn¡¯t open even with the password.

    ¡°You were the one who sent me here right?! What for?! Why me?! Hey!¡±

    While he was busy pounding the wall and shouting frantically, a low rumbling roar emanated from behind him.

    Slowly turning around, Ice found himself facing the Wood Golem again.

    ¡°Uh¡­ hi there buddy. Glad you¡¯re already up and about he he¡­¡±

    ¡°Uuuurrr (Hello there squirt. I¡¯m sure you already have an idea about what¡¯s coming¡­)

    ¡°Uh¡­ time for bed?¡­¡±

    ¡°Uuuurrr (Exactly. Lights out squirt. Sweet dreams.)

    ¡°Oh damn¡­¡±

    And after a quick gigantic forehead flick, Ice was sent to dreamland just like the others.

    ***

    -Interlude-

    ¡°Anomaly detected on AD#105-2 Zeta. Possible breach and successful ¡®unit¡¯ injection. Awaiting instructions.¡±

    ¡°Initiate countermeasures. Execute contingency protocol Z-10. Continue to monitor situation indefinitely.¡±

    ¡°Acknowledged. Initiating countermeasure procedures. Switching to active monitoring mode.¡±

    ¡°Ensure no deviation occurs. Continue giving periodic reports on the situation and await further instructions.¡±

    ¡°Acknowledged.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Seems they¡¯ve already noticed. Your poking around just made it more obvious.¡± The owner of the voice tried for it not to show, but there was a hint of something more than casual irritation in ¡®his¡¯ remark.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s not like this will affect the plan much. We¡¯ve already anticipated this after all.¡± The other presence just dismissed it as trivial and continued to smile contentedly after ¡®her¡¯ little excursion out of curiosity.

    ¡°What you did was still pointless¡­¡±

    ¡°Aww, are you jealous? That¡¯s so cute of you! Don¡¯t worry so much. I was just checking him out a bit. My heart still belongs to you.¡±

    ¡®She¡¯ laughed teasingly after realizing why ¡®he¡¯ was acting up and moved closer to reassure ¡®him¡¯.

    ¡°Hmph!¡±

    ¡°Ahaha. Anyway, things are bound to get more interesting soon. Let¡¯s just enjoy this to the fullest.

    This harmonious yet chaotic symphony¡­¡±

    -Maleena Vilage End-

    *Note

    [1]Bishounen ¨C is a Japanese term literally meaning ¡°beautiful youth (boy)¡± and describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in East Asia: a young man whose beauty (and sexual appeal) transcends the boundary of gender or sexual orientation. It has always shown the strongest manifestation in Japanese pop culture.

    [2]Haki ¨C a term used for a powerful ability that is used in the Shounen Jump manga-turned-hit anime One Piece. Has several types that are defined by different abilities ¨C one of which is to overpower the will of others by using Haki emanated from oneself. The weak willed would pass out one after the other; unable to take the pressure.

    [3]Yankee ¨C In Japan, this term is used to refer to a type of delinquent youth. That is also the meaning subscribed by this work.

    [4]A parody of the Saiyan gadget Geiger Counter which is used to measure an individual¡¯s power in Dragon Ball Z.

    [5]Akihisa ¨C refers to Akihisa Yoshii, the unfortunate main lead of the comedy LN/anime/manga series Baka to Testo to Shokanju (Baka and Test) who always seems to find himself

    deep in trouble and/or taking a severe beating from other characters from the series ¨C including some heroines.

    [6]Fiesta ¨C A Spanish word meaning ¡°festival¡± or ¡°party¡±. The Filipinos use it with pretty much the same meaning.

    [7]Fumoffu! ¨C refers to the companion series to Full Metal Panic that focuses heavily on mostly comedic self-contained episodes or mini-arcs. ¡°Fumoffu¡± is the sound made by Bonta-kun, the series¡¯ fictional mascot, which resembles a human-sized, yellow teddy-bear. In this particular work, Ice is referring to the events of episode 9 (A Goddess Comes to Japan Part 2: The Hot Spring) which features the male cast frantically trying to peek at the girls bath as they vacation in a hot spring inn, encountering many obstacles along the way ¨C a situation parallel to what Ice went through in this chapter.

 Chapter 5: Approaching Danger

    Ice came to, finding himself back inside the room he first woke up in when he was sent to El Fabula; a worried looking Sea sitting beside the bed.

    ¡°You¡¯re awake! Thank goodness! How are you feeling?¡±

    ¡°Ugh¡­ A bit light headed¡­ but I guess I¡¯m just fine, considering I did get forehead flicked by a huge golem¡­¡±

    Ice rubbed his forehead and found a noticeable bump protruding right in the middle.

    ¡°Really now! I thought you had the sense not to get caught up doing stupid stuff like that. What were you thinking? And peeping in the womens bath of all things!¡±

    Sea pouted cutely while giving Ice an admonishing look and proceeded to lecture him on gentlemanly behavior and common sense.

    ¡°Hehe. Sorry. I just kinda went with the flow so¡­¡±

    Ice made his best puppy dog look and pleaded apologetically. Fortunately, it seemed to have worked. Sea let out a tired sigh and looked at him straight in the eye.

    ¡°Haaah¡­ What¡¯s done is done I guess. Just don¡¯t do it again. You WON¡¯T do it again right?¡­¡±

    She was still smiling, but a distinct heavy aura was emanating from her and filled the entire room. Somehow, it felt really familiar. It was just like the ¡®Haki¡¯ her father gave off yesterday. Only this time, it was more saturated. And it felt several times more dangerous. If her father was a tiger, then Sea was a dragon. No! It¡¯s the Demon Lord!

    ¡°I-I won¡¯t. I promise! Really, I won¡¯t. So please forgive me¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­Alright then. I forgive you. But if you ever do something like that with the boys again¡­¡±

    ¡°*gulp Don¡¯t be like that Sea. I already said I won¡¯t right?¡±

    ¡°Hmmm¡­ Well, anyway, hurry and come downstairs. Breakfast is ready.¡±

    Finding himself considerably hungry from last nights activity, Ice decided to take Sea up on the offer. He was really intrigued about how well the food tasted even if they looked 2D.

    ¡°___Wonder if I¡¯ll ever get to taste [1]manga meat here hehe¡­¡±

    With those silly thoughts in mind, Ice went down for breakfast.

    ***

    ¡°WHAT THE HECK IS THIIIIIIS!?¡±

    Ice was again letting out a heart felt scream seconds after his breakfast got served.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you lad? Screaming like that on the breakfast table. Didn¡¯t your parents teach you any manners?¡±

    Mr. Alphonse scolded him with narrowed eyes.

    ¡°N-no but¡­ but¡­ t-this is¡­ You¡¯re saying this is¡­ breakfast?¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, this is our breakfast today ¨C barbecued Mercurian Cattle meat. What of it? Never had one of these before? Well, they are a tad expensive so¡­ This was donated by a noblewoman who really liked the results after trying out our Spring Water bath reagent so we practically got it for free *heh.

    It might be a little heavy for breakfast but this has a short shelf life because the meat gets really hard if not cooked relatively fresh even if refrigerated, so we gotta finish em off while they¡¯re still good. Just be thankful I¡¯m sharing this with you at all boy.¡±

    ¡°___No sir. That really isn¡¯t the issue here¡­¡±

    Ice was again dumbfounded. This world has been nothing but surprises ever since he arrived. And to think he would have the chance to try ¡®this¡¯ so soon¡­

    ¡°Mr. Ice, you better eat that while it¡¯s hot. It¡¯s really good.¡±

    ¡°Yep. Thish ish da besht! Mmmph.¡±

    Vee was eating with impeccable manners using a knife and fork while Ein was really putting em down by taking huge bites off of the meat with relish.

    ¡°A-alright. Thanks for the meal¡­¡±

    Ice took a bite with slight trepidation and his eyes widened in amazement soon after. He didn¡¯t notice it himself but he was actually shedding tears. He was incredibly touched.

    ¡°Eh? What¡¯s wrong Ice? Is it bad? Don¡¯t you like it?¡±

    Sea was flustered at Ices¡¯ reaction.

    ¡°Eeh! You don¡¯t like my daughters cooking?! Damn brat! I¡¯ll put you in your place!¡­ OW! Honey, what was that for?!¡±

    Mr. Alphonse was suddenly pinched by Mrs. Romany on the arm.

    ¡°Honey, don¡¯t be rude to our guest. That¡¯s bad manners.¡±

    ¡°Bu-but honey, this brat just insulted our daughters cooking. I just can¡¯t let that slide!¡±

    ¡°*sigh Can¡¯t you see he¡¯s just being emotional just now. He¡¯s really enjoying his food. Those are clearly tears of joy¡­¡±

    ¡°EEEH!¡±

    ¡°Is that true Ice?¡­¡±

    Sea asked worriedly.

    ¡°Y-yeah. I¡¯m just so touched. To think I¡¯ll be able to taste this wonderful delicacy in my life time. And it truly tastes amazing!

    The the first bite introduces you to a firm tender texture overflowing with juiciness. But the longer you chew, the more you¡¯re introduced to different types of meat flavors! It¡¯s like this encapsulates all of the best tasting meat types in one ultimate meat dish! Truly addicting! I dare say it even tops the Jewel Meat from the Regal Mammoth!!!¡±

    ¡°Regal what? What nonsense are you going on about boy?¡±

    Ice suddenly grabs Seas hands and gave an impassioned ¡®thank you¡¯.

    ¡°Thank you mademoiselle for that truly splendid piece of manga meat. That was absolutely wonderful.¡±

    ¡°E-eh!¡­ Umm¡­ Uhh¡­ W-well¡­ I¡¯m glad you liked it *blush¡±

    ¡°This damned brat! I¡¯m going to¡­ OOWWW!¡±

    ¡°Honey¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sorry¡­..¡±

    Ice proceeded to eat his fill with much gusto while Sea was still looking at her hands, blushing profusely. Mrs. Romany was nodding approvingly while still pinching her husband. Vee and Ein were whispering to each other while grinning.

    ***

    ¡°That was a great meal! I¡¯m stuffed!¡±

    Ice was thoroughly satisfied with the manga meat and was now dutifully picking his teeth. Ein then came close and whispered to him.

    ¡°Hey bro, that was really unfortunate back there huh? We were so close too.¡±

    ¡°Err¡­ yeah it was he he. Let¡¯s just not talk about this stuff when your sister¡¯s around. That¡¯s seriously dangerous.¡±

    ¡°Hah! Yeah, she¡¯s seriously scary when she snaps. Bet you won¡¯t even survive one second he he. Still though¡­ What a waste. To think I¡¯d mess up the bath schedules¡­¡±

    ¡°Eh? What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°I messed up the schedules bro. I was sure I heard it was 1900. Turns out they were scheduled for the 9:00 slot instead. Maaan. Mom¡¯s using bait and switch again.¡±

    ¡°Wait up¡­ What do you mean you messed up the schedules? You mean there wasn¡¯t supposed to be anyone using the bath till nine o¡¯clock?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what I¡¯m sayin bro. I mean, you didn¡¯t get to see anything right? The Memory Scrolls are useless now. Oh well. At least there¡¯s next year right?¡±

    Ice was confused by Eins statement.

    ¡°But¡­ at that time surely there was¡­¡±

    ¡°Bro?¡­ What¡¯s wrong? Are you that disappointed? Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll plan really hard for next year.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Ah¡­ no, it¡¯s nothing¡­ Excuse me. I need to go check something for a bit.¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡­ Ah, bro! Where are you going? Hey!¡±

    Ice was already running full speed towards the main inn.

    ***

    Ice arrived at the main inn and frantically asked for directions from the staff. He was trying to find out where Lady Melva Hollcroft was staying.

    ¡°___The main suite¡­ Third corridor from the left¡­ There!¡±

    Ice ran towards the room and hurriedly opened it.

    ¡°Excuse meee!¡±

    Ice was met with plenty of startled looks from the occupants of the suite. Then, the tip of a sword was suddenly thrust in front of his face.

    ¡°Who are you?! What are you doing here?!¡±

    A girl of medium height was glaring while holding the sword towards him. She had her ash blond hair tied up in a braid and had sharp features. Her deep ruby eyes were penetrating and radiated an aura of strength and purpose.

    Ice, whose mind was going overdrive, came to his senses at the sight of the dangerous looking weapon and fell over backwards to the floor.

    ¡°___Oh crap! I was really panicking after remembering what happened last night and ran over here on impulse. Damn! Now what excuse should I give?¡­¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong Giselle? What¡¯s all this commotion?¡±

    A tall, gorgeous woman came from within the interior of the room. She had silver hair which curled slightly at the tip and a regal aura despite being only clad in a bath robe. And, despite trying to be a gentleman, Ice couldn¡¯t help but stare at her rich chest.

    ¡°Lady Melva! Don¡¯t come any closer! This guy suddenly barged in here without warning. I¡¯m currently interrogating him. He may be dangerous.¡±

    Melva turned her attention to Ice who was still sitting dumbstruck on the floor.

    ¡°Err¡­ Hello ma¡¯am¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡­..¡±

    ¡°___Crap! What do I do? What do I do?!¡±

    As Ice was sweating buckets, Lady Melva slowly moved towards him and the girl with a dazed expression.

    ¡°Lady Melva!¡±

    The girl called Giselle was frantically trying to prevent her from getting closer, but Lady Melva was already on her knees and was currently looking at Ices¡¯ face intently.

    ¡°Err¡­ Ma¡¯am?¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.¡±

    ¡°___What¡¯s wrong with her? Why¡¯s she looking at me like that?¡±

    Ice was getting increasingly flustered as Lady Melva continued to stare at him, and as Giselle was about to move to separate the two¡­

    ¡°My!!! What a gorgeous looking young man!!! What¡¯s wrong? Are you lost dear? What can big sis do for you?¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡­ Mmmmmph!¡­.¡±

    Ice was suddenly smothered between Lady Melvas breasts as she moved to hug him close; a horrified looking Giselle petrified to inaction near them.

    ¡°___Eh? Eeeeeh!!! Wait! Wait up! What¡¯s with this deliciou¡­ I mean outrageous development?!!!¡±

    ¡°M-My lady!!!¡±

    Giselle, recovering from her daze, frantically separated the two while glaring daggers at Ice.

    ¡°Wha- Giselle! What are you doing? I¡¯m just trying to comfort this poor young man here.¡±

    ¡°There she goes again with her peculiar ¡®preferences¡¯ *mumble¡­.¡±

    ¡°Eh? What are you mumbling about Giselle?¡±

    ¡°Waah! N-Nothing my lady! A-Anyway, you can¡¯t just go and approach anyone suspicious like that! It¡¯s dangerous!¡±

    ¡°Eeeeh¡­¡±

    ¡°No ¡®eeh¡¯s my lady. It¡¯s really worrying for your personal guard every time you do that you know. Sir Hendrix always seems like he¡¯s about to have a heart attack whenever this happens.¡±

    ¡°Ookaaay.¡±

    ¡°*sigh Really, this woman *mumble *mumble¡±

    Ice, who was left on the wayside, was internally debating with himself whether he should just run away or try to explain himself at sword point. Then, another development took place.

    ¡°Ice! What¡¯s wrong? Why¡¯d you run all the way here? Eh?¡­¡±

    Sea followed Ice all the way to the inn after hearing from Ein and was confronted by the current scene ¨C two ladies clad in bathrobes and Ice who was on the floor.

    ¡°¡­¡­¡­.Ice¡­. You know¡­ when you said you wouldn¡¯t do it again, I decided to believe you¡­ And so I¡¯m going to give you some time to explain yourself. If, by any chance, your explanation isn¡¯t convincing enough¡­¡±

    ¡°___The Demon Lord cometh again!!!¡±

    Ice was in even deeper crisis! He hurriedly stood up and tried to placate the situation before it got even worse.

    ***

    ¡°Hmmm¡­ So you¡¯re saying you somehow found something familiar with Lady Melvas name and went to confirm it without really thinking it through and you ended up barging into her room unannounced¡­¡±

    ¡°U-huh. I¡¯m really sorry¡­¡±

    Ice ended up making up another white lie and was again feeling a bit guilty about it. But telling the truth (ended up seeing a really gorgeous raven haired lady naked in the womens bath last night and ran all the way here to confirm if she was Lady Melva or a member of her retinue) would result in him digging his own grave and jumping headfirst into the pit, so he ended up not having any choice but to make up this hastily thought up excuse.

    ¡°*sigh I guess if you somehow managed to find a clue to your identity, you¡¯d really want to confirm it right away¡­ But that was still rude of you Ice. You can¡¯t just barge into a woman¡¯s room like that! And not just any woman at that! In normal cases, you could have been punished severely.¡±

    ¡°___If that were true, then why¡¯d Ein and the men try that hard to peek at Lady Melva last night; considering the consequences¡­ Those guys sure are dedicated¡­ Well, after getting a load of that chest of hers, I guess I can understand them a bit¡­ ehehehe¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­You¡¯re making a lewd face¡­¡±

    ¡°W-Wah? N-No! That was my ¡®troubled¡¯ face.¡±

    Ice decided to get his mind out of the gutter before he lands himself in any more trouble.

    ¡°So let me get this straight¡­ This guy has amnesia and, somehow, he felt something familiar upon hearing Lady Melvas name; and so he went all the way here to confirm things.¡±

    Giselle, who finally calmed down somewhat and had already sheathed her sword, inquired while sipping some tea.

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. If you could find it in your heart to forgive him my lady. He¡¯s still pretty much confused from the whole ordeal.¡±

    Sea was lightly bowing her head in a gesture of apology and Ice decided to follow her lead.

    ¡°Oh my. You poor thing. Of course I forgive him! There was nothing to forgive anyway. So, did you remember something from meeting me young man?¡±

    ¡°Uuh¡­ unfortunately, no my lady. I¡¯m really sorry for all the trouble though.¡±

    ¡°Think nothing of it. You¡¯re such a dear.¡±

    ¡°¡­.Are you sure you¡¯re not just making this up to escape punishment?¡±

    Giselle was still eyeing him with a suspicious look, so Ice tried to make his best none-threatening, innocent look.

    ¡°Well, anyway, this little thing is all cleared up. Say, young man¡­ do you want to come with me to my villa so we can have some doctors look at your condition? It would be the best if some experts examined you. And I could perhaps take care of you while you¡¯re there¡­¡±

    ¡°I think everything¡¯s taken care of so we¡¯ll take our leave!!! Thank you for the tea my lady!¡±

    ¡°Yes! I think that¡¯s for the best! Please don¡¯t let anything like this happen in the future.¡±

    ¡°Of course! Well then!¡­¡±

    ¡°Eeeh! But what about my offer?¡­¡±

    ¡°The lord wouldn¡¯t approve of it anyway. Do take care Miss Sea.¡±

    ¡°Yes, thank you. We¡¯ll be going now.¡±

    After Sea and Giselles rapid exchange, Sea tugged at Ices¡¯ arm and led him out of the room, leaving a disappointed looking Lady Melva and Giselle frantically trying to keep her from coming after them.

    ***

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s master! How are you doing today master? Need any back rubs perhaps?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ he he¡­ Maybe some other time Nichols.¡±

    ¡°Hey there Mr. Ice. I made some porridge and I was wondering¡­ Could you come with me for a bit? I need to talk to you about some things you see. Preferably some place quiet. We can share the porridge if you¡¯d like.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m actually quite full Lenoire. And busy! Yeah, that¡¯s right. Mrs. Romany had me run some errands you see¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s too bad. Next time then Mr. Ice. I¡¯ll be waiting!¡±

    ¡°Y-Yeah. Next time.¡±

    ¡°*whisper Geh! It¡¯s Ice¡­ Damn! Somehow I¡¯m really annoyed, but still¡­ You gotta admit, he has guts.¡±

    ¡°*whisper Yeah! If it were me, I wouldn¡¯t even make it past the inns entrance¡­ Damn, it still makes me jealous though¡­¡±

    After this mornings fiasco, Ice found himself gathering increasing attention from the male populace in Maleena village. Apparently, word spread about how he, in an act born from an unprecedented passion about all things ecchi, boldly went to the room Lady Melva was staying at in order to fulfill the dashed hopes of every male that participated in last nights failed peeking attempt.

    Instead of being beat up and/or punished, he was even rewarded by a hug and had obtained the experience of his head being sandwiched between her bountiful breasts.

    It turned him into an instant celebrity. An idol worthy of envy, respect and admiration for the young men of Maleena village. Even some of the older guys looked at him with eyes filled with welling emotion.

    ¡°You did good lad! You did good¡­ Gaah! If I were ten years younger!¡­¡±

    Mr. Galen was crying buckets as he held Ice in a tight bear hug a little earlier.

    Ice had his awkward smile on all throughout. He wasn¡¯t expecting to be made famous for this kind of stuff. He held mixed feelings about it. But what he minded the most was the slight stiffness that was readily apparent whenever he interacted with Sea. She was trying not to show it of course, but it was still painfully obvious to Ice.

    Somehow, it really bothered him. It bothered him a lot. But, as he was woefully aware of his abysmal experience interacting with girls apart from Lin, he was at a loss about what to do.

    ¡°Well if it isn¡¯t the man of the hour himself. How are you holding up dear? You¡¯re garnering quite the following from what I heard. *giggle¡±

    Mrs. Romany greeted Ice with a glowing smile as she met him down the village road. It was bright. Too bright. Even though there wasn¡¯t even a hint of admonishment in her expression and demeanor, Ice felt increasingly guilty for some reason while looking at her smile.

    ¡°Haha¡­ Frankly ma¡¯am, it¡¯s a bit too much for me. I really didn¡¯t have any questionable motives when I did that this morning. I really didn¡¯t!¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry about that too much dear. It¡¯s fine. I believe you. Besides, I¡¯m used to you menfolks antics.¡±

    ¡°Ahaha¡­ Actually ma¡¯am, from the way Ein described it, you actually knew about what the guys were planning last night. You even had some traps set up in advance. Why didn¡¯t you just nip it in the bud if you already knew? Could¡¯ve saved a lot of trouble.¡±

    ¡°*giggle Of course I knew. This practically happens every year. This years was a lot more flashy than any of the previous years too. It seems it was a big hit with the audience. A lot of them said they were looking forward to next years event. So I¡¯m planning to make it even flashier. I¡¯m counting on you for next year too Ice.¡±

    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am. I¡¯ll do my be¡­. W-Wait a second! Audience?! We were being watched?¡±

    Ice was surprised by the sudden revelation. Were the men already aware of this?

    ¡°Ehehe. You were quite amazing back there dear. You actually even gained some female fans among some of the noble ladies. Something about ¡®not minding if the ones who were coming to peek were cute boys like them (Ice and Ein)¡¯. I¡¯m actually planning to have an Artist draw a picture of you two for promotional purposes.¡±

    ¡°A-Aha ha ha ha¡­¡±

    Ice only managed an awkward laugh while having one of his mental face palms.

    ¡°___She totally played us! Do Ein and the guys already know about this? Maybe they knew about it but went through with it anyway¡­ And this happens every year?¡­ Oh boy¡­¡±

    ¡°You should¡¯ve seen your face dear. It was classic. Too bad we switched up the bathing times a little huh?¡±

    ¡°Err¡­ This is just a ¡®what if¡¯ question¡­ but if we actually managed peeking in the women¡¯s bath, what would have happened?¡­¡±

    Mrs. Romany made a smug look (while still managing to appear absolutely gorgeous) and puffed up her chest.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m really quite confident about the countermeasures I set up every year. But if someone does manage it¡­ Well, I guess we¡¯ll leave him to enjoy the spoils for a while as it were. The men do try their best every year after all. It would feel wrong if you didn¡¯t get some form of reward from time to time.

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    Of course, leaving it as it is would be a huge breach of our customers privacy. So I¡¯ll just have the guy captured and use some Memory Alteration scrolls or something for damage control.¡±

    Ice felt a distinct chill from Mrs. Romanys¡¯ answer and gulped audibly.

    ¡°But ma¡¯am, aren¡¯t Memory scrolls actually an army-only resource? And you have to clear several approval levels before you could actually use one. Especially for Memory Alteration or Erasure scrolls. Ein told me the scrolls he got from Mr. Findor yesterday were officially ¡®never here¡¯ if someone actually comes to poke around so¡­ isn¡¯t it kind of¡­ really illegal if you got one for private use?¡±

    ¡°Well, of course it is. But a woman has her ways dear. A woman has her ways¡­¡±

    ¡°___Scary!!! This woman is seriously scary!!! Is every member of their family this dangerous?! Was my life officially forfeit the moment they were the ones who found me in this world?!¡±

    ¡°By the way dear¡­¡±

    ¡°YES!!!¡±

    ¡°Hehee. You don¡¯t have to be so jumpy. I have a small favor to ask if you could spare me some time¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll spare you all the time I have ma¡¯am!!!¡±

    ¡°My, how admirable! Well then, could you go and fetch Sea and pick out some wild flowers from outside the village so we could use them for our aroma therapy bath sessions? She¡¯ll help you pick out the usable ones.¡±

    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am! But¡­ why me? I¡¯m not familiar with this stuff at all.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I just noticed you two needed some time alone to discuss some things is all. You don¡¯t want to?¡±

    ¡°___She¡¯s really perceptive. Then again, as expected of her I guess.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll go right away ma¡¯am.¡±

    ¡°Do take care dear.¡±

    Mrs. Romany sent Ice away with a knowing smile.

    ***

    They already spent quite some time walking in the woods, but Ice and Sea were still pretty much keeping their distance from each other.

    ¡°___Damn. This is really awkward. I need to do something soon. Cmon you damn ¡®torpe¡¯! Get your act together!¡±

    ¡°Umm¡­ Sea¡­¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡­¡±

    Seas back was still turned away from him and was walking slightly ahead. Ice hurriedly caught up with her and managed an apology.

    ¡°I really am sorry about what happened this morning. I wasn¡¯t really thinking straight y¡¯know. Can¡¯t I do anything to make it up to you?¡±

    Ice wasn¡¯t really sure if the reason Sea was acting like this was what he thought it was. If it were true though, then it made her all the more adorable. On the other hand, he was also wondering if it was only his wishful thinking.

    Maybe he was just too heavily influenced by the shows he watched and was actually totally reading this wrong. He felt some slight self loathing from actually considering himself becoming a protagonist of some anime or novel.

    Also, considering his real age, he was actually supposed to be way past all of this stuff already.

    ¡°___I really am one hell of a late bloomer huh?¡­ Pathetic¡­¡±

    Sea stopped walking and turned towards Ice, her face slightly looking down on the ground.

    ¡°You know Ice, I¡¯m aware you didn¡¯t really mean anything barging into Lady Melvas room like that. After all, you did have your reasons. But you see¡­ it still annoys me for some reason. They way she was looking at you¡­ And she even offered to ¡®take care¡¯ of you in her villa¡­

    Aaaah! It annoys me to no end you know! I don¡¯t really know why, but it just does! And I ended up taking it out on you too. I¡¯m¡­ really sorry.¡±

    Sea clasped Ices¡¯ hand and offered an apology herself, still looking slightly down with her ears turning bright red. Ice was dumbstruck. He really was finding himself in a lot of situations that made his ¡®brain.exe¡¯ go haywire ever since finding himself in El Fabula.

    ¡°___So it really was¡­ No, but still¡­ Has spring finally come for me too?¡­ In another world¡­ with an Anime girl?!!!¡­ Uwaaaaaah!!!¡±

    Ices¡¯ eyes were going circles and, although he wasn¡¯t able to look at his face, he was sure he was already red as a tomato.

    ¡°Ice?¡±

    ¡°Y-Yeah¡­¡±

    ¡°Can we just act the same as before? I¡¯m really sorry if I kinda ignored you for a bit. I¡¯m really just being such a kid aren¡¯t I? Ehehe.¡±

    Cute! Sea really was incredibly cute! Ices¡¯ brain just went white from looking at Seas blooming smile. His heart felt like it wanted to jump out of his chest at any moment. Steam was already coming from his head. And, although steam coming from anybodys head was quite peculiar and was only possible in a world like El Fabula, Ice couldn¡¯t care less.

    ¡°O-Okay! Same as before! Right! We¡¯ll go with that! Sure!¡±

    ¡°Really?! *giggle Thank you Ice. Cmon, let¡¯s go look for those flowers.¡±

    Sea started to walk again while still holding hands with Ice. His ¡®brain.exe¡¯ already shut down so he was just going along with the flow without thinking; the feeling of Seas soft hand filling his head.

    ***

    Ice and Sea arrived at a small clearing after going a bit more into the woods and found the flowers they needed.

    ¡°Here Ice. This is the Mint Rose. We need to bring back quite a few so the stock would last at least until next week. I¡¯ll be collecting some over there. Just head on over if you need some help okay?¡±

    ¡°Will do. I just need to fill up these bags right?¡±

    ¡°Uh-huh. I¡¯ll see you later then. Let¡¯s take a small break for lunch before we go back. I made some snacks. I hope you like them *giggle¡±

    ¡°Ah, Y-Yeah. That would be great.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll see you in a bit then.¡±

    ¡°Yup.¡±

    Ices¡¯ gaze followed Sea as she went towards the other side of the clearing and let out a small sigh. There¡¯s no denying that he was absolutely ecstatic about what happened. Why wouldn¡¯t he be? It was literally the first time a girl other than Lin showed interest towards him. Well, there was Melva but Ice thought that her case was a bit different.

    But that was precisely the problem: Lin. He wasn¡¯t really all that sure that it really was the case with her since they¡¯ve never really talked about it much. It was like they were both afraid of ruining the status quo.

    But when he was with her, he felt at peace. There was no pretense and it felt like even one small impetus would be enough to push them all the way to a proper relationship. That was the plan anyway. At least until Ice found himself in El Fabula.

    He almost forgot all about the fact that he wasn¡¯t from this world. He may have enjoyed himself too much. Even if he allowed himself to fall for someone over here, how would that turn out in the end? He still wanted to go back to Earth after all. He missed the internet. He was worried about his parents. He wanted to see his friends and loved ones. And there was Lin.

    Ice was a little incensed by his current thoughts and tried to distract himself by focusing on picking the Mint Roses and chugging them inside the bags. But after a few moments passed, he suddenly felt something was off.

    It was quiet. Too quiet. Everything was absolutely still. The light breeze that was slightly messing up his hair stopped as well. Ice felt it was very unnatural. He was having goosebumps.

    There was a sudden rustling sound near the trees just ahead and Ice focused his attention towards it.

    Dark silhouettes flitted in between the shadows of the trees. Ice braced himself. He was told that this area was relatively safe because it didn¡¯t have much of a monster presence. Looks like this was just one of those days when his luck turned for the worse.

    A large creature finally emerged from within the shadows and growled menacingly. Two large canines protruded from the large maw lined with several smaller, but no less dangerous looking teeth. Its dark red fur resembled the color of blood.

    It looked like a large wolf. But it was at least thrice as big. Ice estimated that it would have no problem exceeding his height if it stood with it¡¯s hind legs. It also had a large horn that grew from the center of its forehead.

    He wasn¡¯t sure what kind of monster it was, but he was sure it was dangerous. It¡¯s blood shot eyes were already focused on him and reflected pure animosity.

    ¡°___Damn! What the hell is this thing?! How¡¯d I end up in something this dangerous right from the get go?¡±

    Ice made sure not to let his attention stray from the monster. He was backing away slowly and, if given the chance, would try to use the trees for cover as he ran away. Facing it head on could only end in disaster since he didn¡¯t carry any weapons and, even if he did, this thing didn¡¯t seem to be the type to be downed by just one person. He also had practically zero experience with this stuff so he was actually going at it blind.

    He was conflicted on whether he would try to go where Sea was to warn her or not. He wasn¡¯t sure how many of these things still lurked within the forest and if by chance this thing was alone, going towards Sea would only serve to get the both of them in harms way.

    ¡°___Well, it looks like trying to look non-threatening won¡¯t work. That thing already has me pegged as ¡®prey¡¯ from the get go. But I don¡¯t know if I can even outrun it. It¡¯s huge and those legs sure look fast. Ha ha¡­ Looks like trying to lead this guy away from here is the best I can manage. Damn me and my rotten luck¡­¡±

    ¡°Alright big guy. You want a piece of me? Come and get it.¡±

    As soon as Ice got fairly close to the trees, he started to run and shouted a warning towards Sea.

    ¡°Sea! There¡¯s a monster after me! Go back to the village and get some help!¡±

    He made a mad dash for it as soon as he finished shouting. After a few moments spent running, Ice found it odd that there was no sign of something chasing behind him.

    ¡°___Why isn¡¯t it coming?¡­ Shit! did it decide to go after Sea instead?!¡±

    As Ice was panicking at the thought of the monster ending up hunting Sea instead of him, a glint of red ran past his eyes.

    ¡°___What the?¡­¡±

    It was the monster wolf. It was now in front of him again after approaching silently like a ghost. It was eyeing him again, stock still.

    ¡°___Why isn¡¯t it attacking? It¡¯s clearly hostile but it¡¯s just standing there and growling at me.¡±

    Ice tried to run away a few more times only to have the same thing happen to him each time. When he decided to quicken his pace and widen the distance, it caught up to him instantly and grazed his cheek with its claw; drawing blood.

    Ice looked at the blood he wiped from his wounded cheek and smiled bitterly.

    It seemed weirdly comical to see his own blood. It looked shiny and unnatural. Of course it did. He was in the appearance of an anime character right now so it was a given that his blood looked like how it was depicted in an anime. But it reeked of iron just the same.

    And the palpable pain he felt on his cheek was a grim reminder that this was no crazy ass dream he was having after a night of binge drinking with his co-workers after payday.

    ¡°___So you¡¯re not expressly trying to kill me right away but you¡¯re also not allowing me the possibility of escaping huh?¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re toying with me aren¡¯t you?! You¡¯re just like my cat Lionel, playing with his catch before he goes for the finish!¡±

    As if to answer him, the monster wolf¡¯s maw shaped itself similar to a domineering sneer. It was truly like that of a hunter playing with its prey. It licked the fore claw it used to wound Ice and changed its stance.

    ¡°Looks like playtime¡¯s over huh big guy. Damn¡­¡±

    Ices¡¯ mind was racing. He knew it was hopeless but something about this situation really didn¡¯t sit well with him. He really didn¡¯t like the fact that he was being treated like a toy and being made a fool of. By a monster no less.

    ¡°___Dammit! DAMMIT!!! Can¡¯t I really do anything now? Is my life gonna end like this?! You¡¯ve got to be kidding me! Dying while being played around with by this damn monster¡­ There must be something¡­ Anything!!!¡­¡±

    Unfortunately, he really couldn¡¯t see any way out of his current predicament. He was totally helpless and it was made apparent earlier on that he can¡¯t outrun this monster. He bit his lower lip so hard he drew blood.

    And the monster pounced. Its large jaw was clearly aiming to mangle him to death. Ice closed his eyes and braced for the inevitable.

    ¡°___SHIT!!!¡±

    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­

    But the attack never came to pass.

    Ice opened his eyes to find Sea standing in front of him; facing the monster with long daggers held in each of her hands.

    ***

    ¡°Eh?!¡­ S-Sea?¡­ Wha¡­?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t move and stay where I can see you. This will be over soon.¡±

    Ice nodded weakly, surprised by the change in Seas demeanor. It was akin to seeing an expertly crafted blade finally being drawn from its sheath and taking on its true nature ¨C a weapon that was as beautiful as it was deadly.

    The air around her was sharp and heavy. The pressure she was currently releasing sent chills down Ices¡¯ spine. But what he felt wasn¡¯t fear. It was awe. He was completely taken by the petite figure standing in front of him.

    The monster was wary. Unlike earlier where it took on an attitude that oozed of mockery and contempt; this time it was cautious and alert. It paced around slowly; fully focused on the adversary before it which it regarded as a clear and dangerous threat.

    Sea and the wolf monster both observed the other intently; looking for any opening to exploit. The tension was teetering on the brink, and the stalemate could be broken at any moment.

    The wolf broke the silence first. It charged for Sea at breakneck speed, fully brandishing its large fangs and claws against her.

    It was an instant. Truly just an instant.

    Sea kicked off the ground and moved like a blur, first cutting off one of the wolfs forelegs from the knee down and sent it tumbling sideways. As it was having difficulty trying to recover because losing one limb ruined its sense of balance, Sea moved in quickly and finished it off by jumping on top of it and stabbing the base of its head with her long dagger.

    The monster wolfs HP was brought down to zero instantly with just two quick strikes.

    It turned to dust and left behind some items on the ground.

    [Sable Wolf (¦Á) Horn] Crafting Item ¨C Rare: The long horn of an alpha leader of a Sable Wolf pack. It is very durable and can be made into a variety of weapons.

    [Sable Wolf (¦Á) Hide] Crafting Item ¨C Rare: The hide of an alpha leader of a Sable Wolf pack. It is very tough and flexible and is possible to be made or incorporated into armor and shields.

    [Sable Wolf (¦Á) Fang] Crafting Item ¨C Rare: The long canine of an alpha leader of a Sable Wolf pack. Some indigenous northern tribes of the Valis continent use them to craft accessories that serve as proof of their coming of age and battle prowess.

    Finally easing up after the quick battle, Sea sheathed her daggers on a belt strapped to her waist and went over to check on Ice.

    ***

    ¡°Are you okay? Does anything hurt?¡±

    ¡°Eh¡­! Ah¡­ no, I¡¯m fine. Just a little shaken up¡­¡±

    ¡°Thank goodness. It¡¯ll be best if we went back to the village for now. There could be more of those things lurking here and I¡¯m not confident I can protect you if we were to face a group.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Ice?¡±

    ¡°Sorry¡­ Okay, let¡¯s go back.¡±

    ¡°Alright. Need a hand?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine¡­ Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°Mm.¡±

    Ice felt frustrated that he was again relegated to the role of ¡®bystander¡¯. He had no choice. There was nothing he could do except watch, un-moving. And this was the first time he truly felt angry about being so powerless.

    He wondered if it was hubris, but he truly felt he wanted to at least have the power to protect himself. He didn¡¯t really feel offended that it was Sea, a young girl, who saved him. That wasn¡¯t it. It was just that the experience of not being able to do anything while at the mercy of someone or something else was unbearable to him.

    He thought he didn¡¯t really care for things like ¡®pride¡¯. Looks like he was wrong.

    Ice dragged himself away from the forest with heavy steps.

    -Approaching Danger End-

    [Note]

    *HP serves as a clear indicator of ones over all condition in El Fabula as it was a world that heavily resembled an MMORPG. As long as ones HP was not depleted, it drastically lowered the chances of him, her or it suddenly giving out/collapsing during battle.

    It also granted a sort of quasi- invulnerability and both monsters or people could only be truly killed once their HP goes down to zero. At that point, bodies turn immobile and become fully vulnerable to any attack. Things like the Defense stat become invalid and even the toughest of hides or armor could be easily cut up or crushed.

    If not revived by a recovery spell, one generally only has ten minutes before fully succumbing to death. In the case of monster bodies, they turn to dust and only leave behind things people liked to call ¡®loot¡¯, ¡®monster drops¡¯ or simply ¡®drops¡¯. With people, their equipment items could now be easily looted off, which was very appealing to bandits and cutthroats.

    There are exceptions though. Some high level boss monsters sport attacks that could cause instant death with varying degrees of probability. It bypassed HP and the ten minute revive window and instantly kills if the effect is triggered. These monsters are labelled extremely dangerous and are usually avoided, even by high level bounty hunters and adventurers unless facing one was necessary. There are items and equipment that are used to prevent this effect but are usually either very rare and hard to obtain or astronomically expensive.

    HP also sometimes didn¡¯t drop when someone is sick with things like colds or flu. It seems that bodily conditions outside that obtained in a battle with monsters or other people didn¡¯t affect it much except for a few rare cases such as eating something poisonous. Potent poisons also reduce the time window for revival or outright negates it making them very dangerous.

    There are also high level skills and very rare titles that offered the possibility of negating the revive window such as Absolute Assassination or Underworlds Beckoning. People that possessed these skills were very elusive and quite a few are engaged in some pretty shady business.

    Finally, if there was a drastic level difference between the levels of two opponents, the one with the higher level is also able to negate the revival time window and kill the lower leveled one instantly. This also depends on current equipment and if one aims for critical points like the heart or head as with what happened to the Sable Wolf in this chapter.

    As for exactly how far Sea was in level compared to Mr. wolf, we¡¯ll leave that for the following chapters.

    [1] Manga Meat ¨C prevalent in mangas since the 1990s, it is usually depicted as a thick roll of meat wrapped around a large bone. It¡¯s referenced often in other popular works such as Muv-Luv (Fwoooooh!).

 Chapter 6: Training Start!

    Ice had his injuries taken care of by Sea as soon as they got back. They were mostly minor injuries like small scrapes and bruises except for the cut on his cheek, which bled a bit heavily.

    ¡°The wound might get an infection. We need to disinfect every single one!¡±

    Sea was fussing over even the smallest details and almost had a handle on Ices¡¯ pants if he didn¡¯t notice it early and refused adamantly.

    Sea uttered some things under her breath as she sulked for being so resolutely refused. ¡± Really¡­ It¡¯s not like I haven¡¯t seen it already¡­¡±

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    ¡°N-Nothing! Let¡¯s continue patching you up okay.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yeah¡±

    Ice was still feeling down. He had always tried to lead a low profile life, going with the flow and trying just enough to get by. He wasn¡¯t particularly envious of people who were more well off or talented than him. The fact he hit it off so well with Tim reinforced that mindset. Although Tim¡¯s easygoing personality might have been a factor for that too.

    At least he thought he wasn¡¯t. Now that he had time to actually think about it, his defeatist mindset might have been reinforced by his experiences back when he was a kid. He was always one of the bright, active ones in his elementary days. His name was always up there with the top ten best students and he also placed pretty well in the rankings. He was pretty smug about it too.

    He was ranked 2nd in his first year of elementary school. Then 3rd on his second year. But he slipped to 5th in Grade 4 and finally placed 10th on his sixth and final year (K-12 wasn¡¯t a thing yet back in those days so you graduated from elementary level when you finished Grade 6).

    Sure, 10th was still technically a part of the top students in school. But for Ice, who held a modest amount of pride earlier on about his academic ability (more likely reinforced by the high expectations set by relatives and acquaintances) it was quite a major blow.

    It was then that he realized that the fact that there was always someone above you. He didn¡¯t slack off at studying. He pulled enough late night study sessions (sometimes held in secret from his parents) his once bright and cheerful eyes became baggy and sullen. He reviewed for tests like a madman. But in the end, it was all in vain.

    He wasn¡¯t all that good at sports or any other activities too. He was modestly fluent in English but he was sure he wouldn¡¯t measure up to those private school kids who practically lived and breathed the language at home.

    He just got tired of it all. He didn¡¯t put as much effort in high school and, although he still managed to get in to the top 13, frankly he just didn¡¯t care anymore. The only bright spot in his high school life was Lin.

    ¡°___This would be all meaningless when I become a college student anyway¡­¡±

    When he heard from his mother that the class valedictorian failed to get in to his chosen school (UP Diliman) he just smiled bitterly and told her that was just how life was.

    He entered a local university in Pangasinan and graduated without achieving anything that significant and left it at that.

    The fact that his parents never said anything about his performance made Ice slightly relieved but a bit frustrated at the same time. He felt he disappointed them even if they didn¡¯t actually express the thought nor changed their demeanor toward him. But in the end, he just wrapped it all up with a shrug that seemed to say ¡®can¡¯t be helped¡¯ and went on with life.

    He landed a job at a call center, took home decent pay and saved up a little to buy his parents a low end refrigerator and a TV and just continued on as always with a ¡®come what may¡¯ attitude.

    He made his daily call quota but never hit the amount for incentives and bonuses. He never got a commendation call for good customer satisfaction. He wasn¡¯t really a strong candidate for promotion. He made an effort to come to group practices for office events but didn¡¯t really care if they won or not. He was just¡­ there.

    And to some extent, he felt that was enough. He thought it was all he needed.

    ¡°A simple life is best.¡±

    He was often caught saying that to himself by Lin and his other friends and acquaintances. He always got a ¡®Isn¡¯t that wonderful.¡¯ and ¡®That¡¯s not a bad way to live.¡¯ reaction but he sighed inwardly each time.

    ¡°___It isn¡¯t as wonderful as you think¡­¡±

    He entertained the thought of making just a little bit more effort plenty of times. But he always held back in the end. He was scared ¨C scared of failure. Of disappointment. And the one he was scared of disappointing the most was himself.

    He was just keeping afloat and going along with the currents. He never once dared to fly for fear of falling to the ground. He was even afraid of looking at the sky¡­

    ¡°There! All done! How do you feel?¡±

    ¡®Eh?¡­ Ah, yeah. I¡¯m good.¡±

    Snapping out of his reverie, Ice looked at Seas face and felt a pang of loneliness.

    ¡°___Everyone just keeps going on ahead of me¡­¡±

    Seas face scrunched up in worry,feeling the subtle drop in Ices¡¯ mood.

    ¡°Are you really feeling fine now. You still look like you¡¯re in pain¡­¡±

    ¡°Huh? N-No, don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯m just thinking about some things¡­¡±

    Ice tried to fix his expression after Sea had pointed it out and straitened his back on the bed rest.

    ¡°¡­Okay then. But if you need anything, don¡¯t hesitate to call me okay. I¡¯ll be downstairs for a bit.¡±

    ¡°Alright¡­¡±

    With a final glance, Sea closed the door and went downstairs.

    ***

    ¡°___Damn! DAMMIT!!!¡­¡±

    Before he knew it, Ice was crying. Back on Earth and even here in El Fabula, he still felt so pathetic.

    ¡°___Cant be helped?! I¡¯m content with just this?! The heck am I kidding?! Of course I wanna do better! Of course I wanna achieve more! Who doesn¡¯t?! Anyone who says otherwise is just a damn hypocrite! And I¡¯ve been one for most of my damn life!¡­¡±

    Something was starting to burn within him. An intense desire to be stronger. To gain back his lost self confidence. Because he deprived himself for so long, the desire burned hotter. Purer.

    ¡°___F*** failure! I¡¯m gonna make something of myself in this world even if I have to wallow in mud just to achieve it. Making it back home will come later. I¡¯ll just be too ashamed to face everyone if I come back like this.

    Entering a relationship?! I¡¯m still unworthy of that! How could I make my partner happy if I just continue being like this?! Stronger! I must be stronger!!! Strong enough to be able to walk with my head held high with pride!¡±

    Ice bellowed challenging words and swore to the beings who made him go through this situation from the top of his lungs.

    ¡°Whoever it was who sent me here! I don¡¯t know what you want of me but bring it on! I¡¯m going to show you I can do it and then some with plenty to spare! You hear me?!!! I¡¯ll F***ING DO IT DAMN YOU!!!¡±

    Sea hurriedly came up to the room to check up on him after his sudden tirade startled everyone in the house.

    ¡°Ice? What¡¯s wrong? I could hear you shouting downstairs. Does anything hurt?¡±

    Ice turned to her and calmed his expression. He replied with a steady voice.

    ¡°No. I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ve just made my resolution. And I¡¯m not backing down with my tail between my legs this time.¡±

    ¡°I-I see. What did you resolve to do? Is it related to why you came here to Valis even at the expense of losing your memory?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, something like that¡­ Anyway, SEA!!!¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes?! W-What is it?¡±

    Ice grabbed Seas hands and got down on his knees, looking at her with eyes ablaze with intense passion.

    ¡°___C-Could it be? Is he really going to?!¡­ B-But my heart¡¯s still not prepared!¡­ Waaaah!!!¡±

    Sea¡¯s face was burning red from embarrassment and her heart rate was speeding up to amazing levels.

    ¡°Sea¡­¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡­¡­Please teach me how to fight! I beg you!¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡­ EEEEEEEEEEEEHHHH?!!!¡±

    ***

    Now it was Seas turn to be dumbstruck. Her mouth was opening and closing but no words came out.

    Finally, she managed a slightly stuttered reply.

    ¡°W-Why? W-What¡¯s came over you Ice? Asking about fighting of all things¡­¡±

    Ice gripped her hands tighter, stood up and brought his face close which made Sea even more flustered.

    ¡°Please¡­ After watching how you fought with that monster, something in me was lit up. I was really touched by your strength. Your valiant figure was nothing short of beautiful. I would like nothing more than having you teach me how to fend for myself.

    It¡¯s a dangerous world after all. You never know when something like that would happen again. So I would like to obtain the strength necessary to at least protect myself and not worry anyone else. Please Sea. I¡¯m begging you¡­¡±

    Ice was pleading with words tinged with raw emotion. In the end, Sea was affected by Ices¡¯ enthusiasm and nodded weakly uttering a quiet ¡®Okay¡­¡¯

    ¡°Y-You n-need to rest so we¡¯ll start tomorrow. It¡¯s good to have drive but not to the extent of overworking yourself. S-So rest up for now okay.¡±

    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll be looking forward to tomorrow then ¡®Master¡¯!¡±

    ¡°Eh? D-Don¡¯t call me that. It¡¯s embarrassing! T-Tomorrow then.¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    After Sea got out, Ice finally noticed he was grinning. He was grinning unconsciously. His mind and heart were light. Like he¡¯s cast off a heavy weight that was bearing down on him. Any longer and he felt it would have crushed him. Then it would have been too late.

    ¡°___I already took the first step¡­ From now on there¡¯s no turning back¡­¡±

    Ice tried to rest but his wildly beating heart made it hard to sleep.

    ***

    There were a few reasons as to why Ice chose to learn fighting. For one, he was planning to become an adventurer. It was apparently a thing here in El Fabula. Well, it did resemble MMORPGs so that was almost a given.

    Adventurers gained fame and made it to the top of the social hierarchy at a relatively fast pace if you piled enough notable achievements. Since the ¡®Second Age of Exploration¡¯ started, there has been relatively high demand for highly skilled adventurers which set off to distant and uncharted lands in search of untapped resources and treasure.

    Claiming these lands for their home country would also benefit in the growth and prosperity of their homeland so succesful adventurers were showered with praise and were highly regarded by the general populace ¨C basically treated like heroes. They were also lauded by the politicians and rulers of their home countries and given substancial financial rewards and various other incentives and perks.

    But before even making it to the list of potential explorers, one had to build up a positive reputation. The more famous one becomes, the greater his or her chances to be selected.

    There plenty of ways to make a name for oneself. It was not restricted to pure combat Classes as well. Production and Crafting Classes were also in high demand. But the competition was fierce. And at times, cutthroat. Some were willing to do anything necessary for fame. But it wasn¡¯t good to overdo it because it may affect ones reputation negatively.

    So everybody developed his or her unique way of keeping up while making it appear they were playing by the rules. Some were just really steeped in to the ways of truth and justice (either that or they were just plain naive fools) and were very much by-the-book law abiding citizens while some played it both ways and developed a nose for properly assessing risk and reward and a good eye for people, knowing just when the time to bail out was if things really got out of hand. And some were just plain ¡®evil¡¯. The term is relative of course.

    Ice wasn¡¯t confident in his crafting skills. And based on what he heard, leveling the skills needed to keep up with the big names in the industry was a long and tedious process. Even Mr. Galen who had tons of experience as a Foreman didn¡¯t make it and just settled down in Maleena together with his wife.

    Ice didn¡¯t plan on settling down. He still had no clue about how to get back to Earth and staying in a village/spa resort wasn¡¯t going to help him search for a way faster. Becoming an adventurer and travelling around the world while searching for clues sounded a lot more appealing to him.

    Plus, he was an avid MMO gamer back in the day. It would be a lie to claim that he wasn¡¯t at least a little excited about the prospects of going on quests and fighting monsters.

    Ice was aware of the fact that it would be very different from the point and click MMORPPGs he played back on Earth because he¡¯ll be using his own body to fight. But he was strangely calm about the prospect. He also wasn¡¯t all that fazed when he recalled his encounter with the monster yesterday.

    He wasn¡¯t exactly sure if it was because of adrenaline, testosterone or that he was just plain going crazy. But that was irrelevant to him now.

    Of course, this all relied heavily on the chance that ¡®The System¡¯ would grant him a proper combat Class. And even if he didn¡¯t, he judged that learning how to fight wouldn¡¯t be a waste of time.

    He would most likely encounter danger during his travels. He came to this conclusion after hearing that the monster he and Sea encountered (Sable Wolf) wasn¡¯t usually a solitary hunter and didn¡¯t normally come this far north. After sending out a scouting party comprised of the village guard, it was determined that the monster really was alone.

    It was extremely odd according to what he heard.

    ¡°___Basing on what has happened so far, it seems that ¡®someone¡¯ or ¡®something¡¯ purposely sent me here for some unknown reason. The woman I met also called me ¡®Counterpoint¡¯¡­ There¡¯s a high chance another party didn¡¯t want me over here so they sent that monster to eliminate me¡­¡±

    This made it seem that he was a major player in some grand plot. That he was actually a ¡®protagonist¡¯. But even if he wasn¡¯t and was, in truth, only just an unimportant and disposable pawn or was only sent here for fun or some other crazy or silly reason, Ice didn¡¯t have any plans of going along and just rolling over dead.

    Thus, he judged that learning how to fight was essential, even just for self defense.

    ¡°___If I ever get assigned a Production or Crafting Class like Cook or Carpenter, learning fighting and self defense would still come in handy. ¡®Fighting Cook¡¯?¡­ Has a nice ring to it actually¡­¡±

    With these thoughts in mind, Ice proceeded to the designated practice grounds at the outskirts of the village.

    ***

    ¡°You¡¯re here.¡±

    Ice arrived at the practice grounds to find Sea welcoming him with a smile. She was wearing clothes that were easy to move in (a pair of trousers, leather boots and a loose fitting shirt tucked in) and had her long caramel hair tied up in a ponytail.

    It was really charming.

    ¡°___Somehow, this really calms my heart¡­¡±

    Ice made a sloppy looking smile and nodded approvingly, making Sea conscious of her looks.

    ¡°W-What?! Does it look weird?¡­¡±

    ¡± ~Nooo¡­ Not at all. You look great~~¡±

    Ice had his face fixed in an expression of utter bliss and was busy taking in and admiring Seas current get-up.

    ¡°Eh?¡­ W-Well¡­ that¡¯s fine then.¡±

    Sea had a faint blush on her face and looked a bit troubled on how to react. Ice snapped out of his reverie and implored for them to begin training so as not to waste any more time.

    ¡°Okay then. First I have to ask, do you have any experience at all when it comes to fighting or battles in general Ice? I know you have amnesia but things like these aren¡¯t that easily forgotten.¡±

    ¡°No, I really can¡¯t say I do. I don¡¯t even know how to throw a punch properly.¡± he answered without any hesitation. Ice wasn¡¯t keen on fighting in the first place, though he did like sports that involved it; like boxing.

    ¡°So it¡¯s better to assume you¡¯re a complete beginner then. So we¡¯ll have to work you from the ground up huh? Alright. But we have to do something first, considering efficiency.¡±

    ¡°Okay. What do we do, exactly?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re planning on becoming an adventurer right? You told me that this morning. If that¡¯s the case, then it¡¯s better for you to change to ¡®Initiate¡¯ right away. That way there would be a chance to gain extra Stat Points and maybe even some extra Skills.¡±

    Initiate, as mentioned by Seas lecture a few days back, was a beginner Class that was the first step in order to gain the right to advance into a proper Basic Class.

    Every person born in El Fabula started out as a ¡®Unit¡¯ which isn¡¯t able to gain Skills or Stat Points. A Unit could still level up, but the gains are fixed and are quite measly (level ups increased basic parameters but it was very minimal and auto allocated evenly on each stat, HP was also really low compared to ones with proper Classes).

    You gained the ability to acquire SPs (Stat Points ¨C used to increase basic parameters) and APs (Ability Points ¨C used to unlock Skills) when you become an Initiate as well as two basic Skills: Passive HP Recovery and Basic Adventuring.

    Passive HP Recovery ¨C Passive: [Recovers HP while resting. Rate of HP recovery varies each Class Advance. Class Type also factors in. Items and equipment also augment the effects. -Cannot Level Up- ]

    Basic Adventuring ¨C Passive: [A must for every budding adventurer. Allows the use of Party, Trade and Vend commands. -Cannot Level Up-]

    You needed to pass an interview by the CQMA (Class Qualification and Management Association) in order to be granted the right to become an Initiate. But that would require quite a bit of time. And Ice wasn¡¯t exactly willing to wait.

    ¡°Can¡¯t we just start with the basics now? I¡¯ll at least need a feel of real battle before we start with the more intensive stuff. I¡¯ll just send a proper application letter to the CQMA later.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re really impatient aren¡¯t you Ice. Ehehe. Don¡¯t you worry about a thing! I actually have the perfect way to make you into an Initiate without going through all that trouble.¡±

    Sea had a smug (yet still cute) look plastered on her pretty face. She¡¯s implying she knows a shortcut. Ice was intrigued.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you know of a more hassle-free way. Do you know someone from the Association. Or maybe your parents do. Your mother does give off the feeling of having a lot of ¡®acquaintances¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Ehehe. Well, mother does have her connections. But no. You don¡¯t really need to look any further. I told you that there were two ways of becoming an Initiate right; submitting an application to the CQMA or getting approved by a certified CQMA examiner. It just so happens that yours truly is one such certified examiner. Ehem!¡±

    ¡°___It really is one surprise after another with this girl huh?¡±

    Ice had a slight wry smile on while looking at the elated Sea flaunting her CQMA license.

    ¡°But wait, even if you¡¯re a licensed examiner wouldn¡¯t that just mean you¡¯ll be able to give me a letter of recommendation so I can skip the interview and take the test right away? If so, I¡¯ll still need to travel to an official CQMA facility so I can actually take that test. That would still take time.¡±

    ¡°Ehehe. Well, normally that would be the case. But I¡¯m different you see. Examiners have certain ranks that allow them different kinds of privileges. I¡¯m ranked A+. So I kinda have the ability to directly promote someone to Initiate, bypassing the test.

    Of course, there are some risks involved. You can¡¯t just recklessly promote any person, like close friends or acquaintances for example, because your aptitude as an examiner is evaluated with the performance of the ones you promoted as a major factor. So if the one you promote does poorly, it¡¯ll reflect on your record. It might even get you demoted or, worse, have your license revoked.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that quite a gamble? If, perhaps, I do poorly in my adventuring career, you¡¯ll get affected negatively too.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not worried. I¡¯m sure if it¡¯s you Ice, you¡¯ll do splendid. You¡¯re very passionate about this after all.¡±

    ¡°___Well isn¡¯t that just piling on the pressure¡­ Well, I plan to make it big anyway so¡­¡±

    Ice made a determined face and resolved himself once again.

    ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s do this.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Alright. All you have to do is just stand still while I use the Promotion Scroll on you okay.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Sea proceeded to take a gold laced scroll out of her item inventory window.

    *The ¡®System¡¯ windows are only visible to the ones who opened them unless made otherwise by changing the settings. From another persons point of view, it would have looked like Sea was conjuring up an item out of thin air.

    This was also how she was able to bring a picnic basket filled with food with her during yesterdays little excursion without having to physically carry it, thus freeing her hands for holding other ¡®more important stuff¡¯ ¨C like the hands of a certain gentleman perhaps.

    Ice was enveloped by a golden glow and felt his entire body getting hot. After the glowing subsided, Ice felt himself welling with an unknown kind of strength.

    ¡°___All this and it¡¯s just the beginner Class. I wonder just how advancing to a Basic Class would feel?¡­¡±

    Ice got pretty excited. He felt like a road filled with entirely new possibilities just opened up for him. He couldn¡¯t wait to start following it through.

    ¡°Alright, that should do it. Ice, try to open your inventory and status windows. You can actually just use your thoughts to bring them up but you¡¯re still new at this so just say ¡®Open Inventory Window¡¯ and ¡®Open Status Window¡¯ out loud.¡±

    Ice did just that and brought up his inventory and status windows for the first time.

    Name: Ice

    Level: 1

    Class: ¡ïInitiate

    HP: 150

    MP: 50

    EP: 50

    Str: 10

    Def: 10

    Agi: 10

    Dex: 10

    Int: 10

    Luk: 5

    Skills: Passive HP Recovery / Basic Adventuring / Ancient Blessing

    ¡°___Hmm? Ancient Blessing? I thought there were just supposed to be two starting Skills?¡±

    Ice decided to look at the skill description.

    Ancient Blessing ¨C Passive: Allows one to use and unlock Skills belonging or related to the Ancient Skill Set. -Cannot Level Up- ¡ïExclusive only

    He was perplexed but had a hunch this could actually be something big and asked Sea for her opinion to confirm.

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Another skill? What¡¯s its name again?¡±

    ¡°Ancient Blessing. Says here that it allows me to use Ancient Skills. Any idea what those are?¡±

    ¡°!¡­¡±

    Sea was suddenly wide eyed in surprise. Her mouth was also slightly gaping.

    ¡°___Bingo! Judging from that reaction, I think I just hit the jackpot.¡±

    Ice was almost sure about it now, but waited for Sea to compose herself and hear her answer.

    ¡°E-Ehem!¡­ Sorry. I was just so surprised. This might be something really amazing Ice. But just to be absolutely sure, do you by any chance have a star symbol right next to your Class name?¡±

    Ice answered in the affirmative and in just a moment, found himself being hugged by an ecstatic Sea.

    ¡°Really?! Wooow! Ice, you did it! You really did it! Ahahaha! I never thought I¡¯d come across something this rare in my lifetime! I was right! I just knew you were special Ice! Amaaazing!!!¡±

    Sea was hugging him tighter and tighter, slightly jumping up and down; her overflowing glee getting the better of her reasoning. Her ample chest was also pressed tightly against Ices¡¯ own and, suffice to say, Ice, who had really low immunity towards things like this, was starting to get really bothered.

    ¡°Umm¡­ Sea. I know you¡¯re really excited and all but this is a bit¡­ I¡¯m a guy you know. It¡¯ll probably be really rude but, honestly, if this continues, my body¡¯ll eventually make a slightly unsavory yet totally natural physical reaction¡­ if you get what I¡¯m saying.¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡­ Waaaaaaah!!!¡±

    Sea, finally realizing their present state, hurriedly separated herself from Ice, blushing furiously.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry! I don¡¯t know what came over me¡­¡±

    ¡°N-Nah. That¡¯s fine. L-Lets just move on shall we?¡±

    ¡°O-Okay¡­¡±

    After a few awkward moments of embarrassed silence, Sea finally began to explain what the whole fuss was about.

    Ice was apparently an example of the few very rare cases of someone having the possibility of being granted an Exclusive Class.

    An Exclusive Class was a unique Class that was only limited to one individual at any point in history. People having Exclusive Classes were, more often than not, very successful in their chosen endeavors. Some have permanently cemented their place in El Fabulan history as great heroes and pioneers, praised and immortalized by the masses.

    This was not always the case however. Many too, turned out to be great menaces to humanity, resorting to all sorts of shady stuff such as banditry and other forms of criminal activity. Some became tyrants and conquerors and razed all that lay in their path. But of course, history was relative and it was not always clear who was actually the hero and who was the menace, and if it was actually proper to have these kinds of clear cut distinctions ¨C as the world wasn¡¯t always so black and white.

    But that was an entirely different discussion and Ice felt it wouldn¡¯t be productive to mull over these kinds of things that didn¡¯t really have a definite answer. History and discussions of morality was of no interest to him, at least not right now.

    What was important was the fact that he now held the chance to definitely become something big. It was quite the pleasant surprise and he more than welcomed the leg-up. Now, all that¡¯s left was to capitalize.

    There were actually quite a few Exclusive Class holders who didn¡¯t make anything of themselves and just vanished in the annals of history, with only a few pages or lines indicating that there was once what¡¯s-his-name that held this-or-that Exclusive Class but just sat on his or her ass and did nothing worth mentioning.

    He felt great aversion but, at the same time, a sense of affinity towards these individuals. It reminded him of his former attitude towards life and he decided to hold this feeling close to his heart, so he would always be reminded of the frustrations he carried and what he now strove to achieve.

    ¡°So, I won¡¯t actually know what kind of Class I¡¯m going to gain even if it¡¯s almost absolutely sure I¡¯m going to get an Exclusive Class huh?¡±

    ¡°Well, yes. There¡¯s actually very little information regarding Exclusive Classes because they are so rare and because some are regarded as top national secrets. There have been really strict restrictions regarding publishing any sort of study or guide book for Exclusive Classes because of this fact. I do know some Class names but as for actuall Skill and Stat details¡­ I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m not of much help.¡±

    ¡°No, you¡¯re plenty helpful Sea. I mean, you ARE the one who¡¯s going to teach me the basics in order to become a full fledged adventurer right. Don¡¯t be so hard on your self. And the situation can¡¯t be helped for the most part. I¡¯ll just have to discover things on my own as I come along. I also think it¡¯ll be more enjoyable and worthwhile for me that way.¡±

    ¡°Really? Oh, thank goodness. I¡¯m actually pretty nervous since I¡¯m actually going to be teaching someone who¡¯s probably going to be huge in the near future. I¡¯m kinda nervous really.¡±

    ¡°Hehe. Me too. I mean I¡¯ll have to live up to my masters expectations now won¡¯t I? I hope she¡¯s not too hard to please.¡±

    ¡°Dummy!¡±

    Sea pouted a little but broke into soft laughter soon afterward.

    Both of them smiled at each other and laughed a bit. After settling each other down, Sea began Ices¡¯ formal training.

    ***

    As Ice was a complete beginner when it came to actual battles, instead of immediately going for actual techniques and strategies, Sea decided to polish the fundamentals first.

    Since he was aiming to become an active adventurer, Ice needed to be able to gain the composure to remain calm and collected when facing attacks from monsters or people with the intent to harm and possibly kill him.

    Sea judged that letting him experience actual attacks instead of focusing on theories would be more effective. She began by feinting attacks on Ices¡¯ body and instructed him to just observe her for the time being, taking in the pace and tempo little by little.

    ¡°___left hook, right straight, right upper, knee kick, elbow, head grab, knee to the body, knee to the solar plexus, front kick¡­¡±

    Ice carried out the instructions to the letter and watched her movements, barely even blinking and soaked it all up in deep concentration.

    Since his father was an avid fan of things like MMA and boxing, Ice was more or less familiar with some of the basic moves used by fighters, or at least their names. He hasn¡¯t seen them being performed firsthand though, much less experienced them being used on him.

    This continued for quite a while. But then, out of nowhere, Sea delivered a serious strike to his face which he barely avoided.

    ¡°Nicely done, considering you¡¯re completely new at this. Don¡¯t slack off now. I¡¯ll be mixing in some real attacks with the feints this time so try to be alert or you¡¯ll be sorry.¡± Sea giggled cutely and issued a quick warning. She said things that were totally out of sync with her current cheerful demeanor.

    ¡°___Saying such spartan things while laughing cutely like that is cheating! Not to mention a bit disturbing. I¡¯m starting to regret this a little¡­¡±

    Looks like Sea switches between different ¡®modes¡¯ depending on the situation. Right now, she was in her ¡®Trainer from Hell¡¯ mode and didn¡¯t hold back at all while training with Ice. Just as he was slowly getting used to the tempo of the attacks, Sea would change pace and completely threw him off, resulting in more than a few bruises all over his body.

    There was no reason to fear running out of HP because it didn¡¯t decrease when a party engages in Training Mode. It was pretty convenient for training new guild or regular army recruits and sparring sessions such as what Ice and Sea were currently doing.

    They continued training until dusk and finally called it a day just right after the sun set. When they came back, Mr. Alphonse was waiting in front of the house with a slightly irritated look.

    Apparently, Mr. Alphonse was making quite a fuss because of the fact that Ice and Sea were all alone together practically all day; finally being ¡®silenced¡¯ by Mrs.Romany as Ice heard from Ein (whatever being ¡®silenced¡¯ implied, Ice had a feeling it was better not knowing).

    He looked like he had some things to say to the both of them, but after looking at Ices¡¯ sorry state (he looked like he just came from being ganged and beaten up by a crowd of very angry people and was sporting a black eye and lots of bruises) it seemed that he let the matter go.

    ¡°Hmph! Looks like this one might actually turn out decent¡­¡±

    Ice thought that he heard Mr. Alphonse say something in a light voice behind his back but because he was totally exhausted, he didn¡¯t pay it any heed.

    ***

    They were already on their third week of training and Ice was now barely able to keep up with Sea and it was apparently enough for him to be able to do some proper sparring unlike the passive spectating and reacting that he did a few days ago.

    He had already somewhat noticed it during the last few days, but Ices¡¯ body condition and reaction speed was quite a bit above average. So was his recovery speed. Sea explained that this was the case for all who took a Class Change and moved up from being a Unit. Their bodies were augmented and were generally exponentially better than they were before the Class Change. She further elaborated that this will become more pronounced the higher Ice advances in his Class Tree.

    Ice took all this information in with much enthusiasm. He was already starting to enjoy the tangible feeling of progress. He might need to be more careful and constantly remind himself not to be too over confident to avoid falling to the trap called hubris.

    He was already trying out some moves on his own while sparring and kept practicing them even after training ends because he had difficulty falling asleep immediately and decided to make every second count.

    ***

    On the fourth week, Ice was almost able to land his first blow on Sea who had always been able to cleanly avoid Ices¡¯ strikes. But instead of being happy about his progress, Sea pouted a bit and complained.

    ¡°What was that? You could have landed a clean hit on me just now. Why did you hesitate? Was it because I¡¯m a woman?¡±

    ¡°Huh? N-No I¡­well¡­¡±

    Ice was shaken be Seas outburst. It seemed that it really was the case. He was raised in a pretty peaceful rural environment after all and was always told by his mother never to hit a woman ¨C something Ice carried to adulthood.

    ¡°Now look here Ice. You¡¯re aiming to be an adventurer right? You can¡¯t have that attitude out there you know. Of course I understand the reason why you hesitated and I think that¡¯s very sweet of you. But out on a battlefield, there would be no distinctions like gender.

    You might need to fight with other people too you know; not just monsters. And some of which would be women. Hesitate and you¡¯re dead. Remember that.¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­¡±

    Ice reflected on his attitude, apologized and requested that they continue the training.

    ¡°As long as you understand.¡±

    It seemed that Sea was placated by Ices¡¯ apology, but she was noticeably harder on him than usual once they resumed training. Ice decided not to point it out and let her vent, at the expense of more aches and pains afterwards.

    ***

    A few days during the fifth week of his training with Sea, Ice was surprised by a sudden announcement message that popped up telling him that he had gained a new skill. Excited, Ice immediately opened his status window to check out the skill.

    New Skill

    Unarmed Combat Mastery ¨C Passive ¨C Level 1: [Due to your unrelenting training in the ways of unarmed combat, you have been awarded with this Skill. This Skill augments attacks without use of weapons and is parallel to the Monks Martial Arts Mastery Skill, although somewhat less potent. Other Skills may be unlocked upon mastery of this Skill. Raises Attack, Attack Speed and Reaction Speed. When wielding weapons, Attack and Attack Speed bonus will not take into effect. Reaction Speed bonus still applies. Weapons such as Knuckle Dusters and Metal Claws are exempt from this rule.]

    Unarmed Atk: +10% / Unarmed Atk Spd: x0.5 / Rct: +5

    XP to next Skill Level Up: 10

    *Note Atk Spd and Rct are hidden parameters. They cannot be normally viewed without the use of certain scrolls or by paying a fee to the Parameter Master at a Guild Hall or certain branches of the CQMA (the latter charges somewhat exorbitant fees so practically nobody even bothers except those afflicted with varying degrees of OCD).

    Ice couldn¡¯t help but grin. He surmised it would be a very useful skill as he still didn¡¯t know if he would be able to get a proper Combat Class once he took the Class Change test. This way, even if he didn¡¯t get one, he would still have a viable means of offense. It was also stated that he would be able to unlock other Skills after achieving Mastery so the prospects were quite positive.

    But even after obtaining this Skill, Ice still decided to continue on with the training until he was absolutely satisfied and sure that he had achieved an optimum safety net.

    ***

    After about a full month and a half, Sea decided to end Ices¡¯ hand to hand combat training, saying that there was nothing more that she could teach him and that improving further would depend on his own efforts from now on.

    They moved on to discussing certain strategies involving facing monsters out in the wild. Many of them were familiar to Ice because of his experience playing MMORPGs so it was just like a lesson review. He still listened intently because no two games are exactly alike and may have some differences regarding certain rules either restricting or favoring certain play styles and strategies.

    Of course, this wasn¡¯t exactly a game per se (he could actually die for one) but a lot of the rules that applied in this world really resembled one, and so his gaming knowledge would still help significantly.

    Because he would be facing monsters head on with his own body and not within the safe confines of his room facing his PC, Ice noted the importance of taking note of monster attack patterns and behavior. He strongly felt this was an important factor in deciding the outcome of a battle. And so, Ice decided that gathering these types of data were of paramount importance.

    He first asked around if there were reference books or guides of this sort available in the village and was referred to ask the Seyramour family for help. Apparently, the Seyramours (specifically Mr. Alphonse and Mrs. Romany) were once famed adventurers themselves,and after earning a considerable amount, decided to retire after discovering a mineral spring vein deep in the mountains and founded Maleena.

    It seemed that their children also inherited their talent and each made a name for themselves as competent adventurers in their own right.

    Vee was a High Priestess that was assigned to the Ricksvale Chapter of the Velmarienne Order and was highly regarded by the nobles and very much loved by the masses for her benevolence and beauty.

    Ein was a novice Monk that was the youngest ever to enter the prestigious Fist of the Heavenly Way School and is fast rising through their ranks.

    As for Sea, she was the youngest ever named squad captain of the Ricksvale Principality Elite Guard with several major achievements under her belt and is loved and respected by her subordinates. Rumor has it that she¡¯s even close with the current princes¡¯ daughter.

    As for why they¡¯re all currently in Maleena; Vee and Sea were so dedicated to their work, they didn¡¯t actually take advantage of any of their leaves and, as the ones in charge of budget for both the institutions they belonged to were pestering their respective superiors about it, they were semi-forced to make them finally take those accumulated leaves. Ein was just playing hooky as usual, but wasn¡¯t really sanctioned much because he was just that talented.

    ¡°___This family sure has insanely high specs. No wonder they¡¯re all so strong.¡±

    Thinking that he was actually really lucky he ended up in their care after all, Ice headed to ask about the monster guide materials.

    ***

    After obtaining what he needed, Ice proceeded to pore over all the materials thoroughly, trying to take in every detail as accurately as possible. Most of the guides only detailed the data on monsters inhabiting this particular region of the continent.

    Ice first studied up on the monsters living near Maleena like the Pon-Pons (creatures that looked like living balls of fur that sported two small horns protruding from their ¡®foreheads¡¯, had different colored varieties), Bulb-eyes (gray lizard monsters with bulbous eyes, kinda looks like a rough scaled chameleon with long, sharp foreclaws) and Dire Hounds (dog-like monsters that sported red irises and a stubby tail, hunted in packs much like sable wolves but were much smaller).

    These monsters ranged from level 1 to 15 and were the very first monsters beginner adventurers hunted. They didn¡¯t yield much in terms of quality drops but were good practice nonetheless. Ice looked forward to facing them.

    After meticulously studying the guides, Ice proceeded to go to Mr. Findors shop.

    ¡°Please sir. I need something to record data on like writing materials. If you have any in stock then please loan them to me for the time being. And some armor too. I promise I¡¯ll pay you back. Or maybe you can check out some of the loot I¡¯ll obtain from hunting and take some that amount to the price of the items.¡±

    ¡°Alright, just settle down young man. I though you were receiving help from the young miss. Why don¡¯t you just borrow some items and equipment from them? It¡¯ll save you the trouble of coming here and begging me haha.¡±

    ¡°Yes well¡­ I kind of think I¡¯ve already received enough help from Sea and her family. They¡¯re all very good people. But I don¡¯t want to impose on them any longer. The sooner I can earn my keep, the better. I don¡¯t really like taking loans and such but I don¡¯t want to trouble the Seyramours anymore than I already have. So please¡­¡±

    ¡°Haha! Well it¡¯s not like I don¡¯t understand how you feel¡­ Okay then, come on over here.¡±

    Mr. Findor signaled for Ice to come in to the interior of the shop. Then he took out some items from the shelves and handed them to Ice.

    ¡°Alright then young man, here¡¯s some items and equipment. This here¡¯s some armor; a Leather Hood, Adventurers Robe, Gloves and Boots. Here¡¯s a Hunting Knife for a weapon and some Light Recovery Potions just in case.

    And this here¡¯s a Record Tablet. You can use it to add another function in the Menu Window called Record. It allows you to write practically whatever you want as long as you don¡¯t exceed the word count limit.

    The basic is 10,000 words which is pretty much enough for general use. If you obtain more Record Tablets, you can expand your word limit.

    These are also popular with young adventurer women because they use it as a kind of private diary hehe. Someone else can¡¯t peek at the contents after all, unless you allow them to.¡±

    Ice marveled at all the useful items, especially the Record Tablet. It sounded pretty rare though, and Ice was a bit hesitant because of this.

    ¡°Err¡­ pardon me for asking but¡­ just how much would these items cost exactly?¡±

    ¡°Oh, the cost? Well, the Tablet alone costs about 3000 Gold. It¡¯s pretty rare after all haha.¡±

    Ice was taken aback. 3000 Gold was a very hefty sum from what he recalled (The currencies were Valis Gold, Silver and Bronze ¨C simple enough. Some other regions had their own versions and sometimes, Jewels or other items were also used as currency.) and so, Ice became very apprehensive about getting it even if it sounded really useful.

    ¡°Uh¡­ I¡¯m not sure if I can pay for all that right away. Maybe I¡¯ll just take the other items¡­¡±

    Mr. Findor interjected as Ice was about to refuse the Record Tablet.

    ¡°No, no. Don¡¯t get me wrong young man. I¡¯m not going to loan these to ya. They¡¯re yours free of charge. Take them.¡±

    ¡°___Free!?¡­¡± Ice had an incredulous look on his face after hearing Mr. Findors statement.

    He was really surprised about the sudden show of goodwill. It would be a really sweet deal if he got the items for free. He was still a little reluctant though.

    ¡°I see from your expression that you¡¯re still hesitant. Are you wondering why I¡¯d go so far to help a stranger like you?

    Haha. Well, you might have already been told, but I was also once an outsider in this village. I was actually a military contractor you see. Was pretty successful too. My partner and I were once the biggest suppliers of arms and equipment in the continent. Everybody wanted our goods. Business was booming. But we ran into a little trouble.

    See, my partner was actually discovered to be selling top secret military info to various countries. Now that would have actually been pretty normal if it were just countries on Valis. But he went too far. He was selling info to countries in Shaturia and Ehvenlande as well. Some of which would have been crucial if these other countries actually planned something like an invasion of our territory.

    Long story short, I was also implicated and was on the run. I happened upon Maleena and Mr. Alphonse found me passed out near the entrance. It was because of him that my neck is still attached to my shoulders hahaha. He has friends in very high places you see.

    From what I hear, you¡¯re pretty mysterious too. Amnesia was it? I don¡¯t know what kind of past you¡¯ve been running from but just call this goodwill from someone who¡¯s experienced some similar things. Besides, the young lady has been smiling a lot ever since you came here. That¡¯s payment enough for me anyhow. Ahahahahaha!¡±

    So it was just because of lucky coincidence and a bit of misunderstanding on Mr. Findors part that he was very partial towards Ice. It made his conscience twinge a bit. But refusing after hearing something like that would have seemed rude, so he accepted them in the end.

    ¡°Thank you very much for all you¡¯ve done for me sir. I¡¯ll never forget this debt of gratitude.¡±

    ¡°Think nothing of it lad. Now off you go. If you happen to find some good items, be sure to let me take a look okay.¡±

    Mr. Findor saw him off with a big grin. Ice once again strengthened his resolve so he can repay all the kindness he¡¯d received during his stay in Maleena. Then he set off for his first actual hunt.

    -Training Start End-

 Chapter 7: Class Change Test

    Ice went to a clearing near the village and started looking for monsters there. He chose somewhere close to the village because he wasn¡¯t sure the attack that happened a few weeks back wouldn¡¯t happen again. He does have an additional safety precaution available though, given by Sea as a gift for completing his training.

    They were a couple of Teleport Stones. These were used to instantly get to any nearby town or city via teleporting. These particular stones Ice possessed held the additional function of being able to set the last town he was in as a transport point. In this case, it was Maleena. Ice could use it to immediately escape danger once he feels it was too much for him to handle. Pretty valuable.

    Having checked his inventory, Ice also went over his stats one more time.

    Name: Ice

    Level: 1

    Class: ¡ïInitiate

    HP: 150

    MP: 50

    EP: 50

    Str: 10 (+20)

    Def: 10 (+40)

    Agi: 10

    Dex: 10

    Int: 10

    Luk: 5

    Skills: Passive HP Recovery / Basic Adventuring / Ancient Blessing / Unarmed Combat Mastery Lvl. 1

    The equipment he had on increased his base stat by quite a bit. The Hunting Knife gave +20 to Str. The Leather Hood and Gloves both gave +5 for a total of +10 to Def. The Adventurers Robe and Boots also added +20 and +10 to Def respectively. They were a bit higher in quality compared to the actual starting gear that novice adventurers usually acquired once they passed the CQMA designated test to become Initiates. Ice once again felt grateful for Mr. Findor¡¯s kindness.

    Not long after, he was able to spot some pink colored Pon-Pons just a bit away from his current position and hurried over to their location.

    ¡°Time to test the waters a bit.¡±

    There were 3 of them in total. They totally didn¡¯t look all that strong, but because Ice was only level 1, he felt that no amount of precaution was wasted. He decided to wait it out until they got separated.

    ¡°___One broke away from the group. Now¡¯s my chance!¡±

    Ice jumped in front of the monster and pelted it with a small rock, which effectively got it¡¯s attention. Ice then ran back a bit to lead the monster away from the other two even further. When he was satisfied with the distance, he turned toward the monster and readied his weapon (Unarmed Combat Mastery provided bonuses but at its low level, it would only give Ice just a few points added to base damage so he decided against fighting unarmed for the time being).

    ¡°___Alright fur-ball, let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got.¡± Ice licked his lips in excitement.

    The Pon-Pon launched a full body charge. Ice avoided it easily.

    ¡°___Hmmm. Much slower than I thought. And the info about it lowering it¡¯s horns translating to a charge was spot on. Well, it¡¯s actually pretty obvious but whatever¡­¡±

    Satisfied about his ability to evade incoming attacks if he wanted to, Ice decided to actually take one attack to know how it would feel like and exactly how much damage he would take.

    The Pon-Pon launched another charge and Ice braced himself for the hit.

    ¡°___Gnnnh¡­ That still hurt a bit¡­ Not as much as Seas strikes though. I only took 5 damage. Looks like the equipment is really holding up well. And the horns didn¡¯t even penetrate my skin. Looks like it¡¯s actually real¡­¡±

    Sea told Ice that if his defense was high enough, he would be able to deflect even a pointed or bladed weapon like a knife with ease, even with bare skin. But if the enemy you were facing had high Atk that trumped your Def, they would easily injure you.

    ¡°___Alright! This time for the kill.¡±

    Ice brandished his Hunting Knife and gave the Pon-Pon a few quick slashes after avoiding its attacks, easily killing it.

    ¡°___No drops. Figures. How bout the XP?¡±

    Ices¡¯ XP bar increased to 30% with just one kill. It was actually pretty high. Ice decided to up the pace and went after a few more Pon-Pons.

    ***

    After a couple of battles, Ices¡¯ level quickly rose to 5. He gained about 3 SPs per level so he now had a total of 15 to spend on upgrading his stats. He decided to focus on Str and Agi first because his Def was still sufficient to take on the monsters in this area and his style was more on avoiding and counter attacking anyway. Ice invested 10 points to Str and 5 to Agi making his base stats a total of 20 Str and 15 Agi.

    Ice decided to move on after collecting all the drops. There were Pink Fur Tufts, Small Pon-Pon Horns and a few Bronze coins. Ice was still curious as to how exactly money was able to come from a monster¡¯s corpse, but decided thinking about that stuff was pointless because the very situation he was in was crazy enough as it is and went about resuming his hunting.

    ***

    He moved over to an area with Green Pon-Pons this time. They were a little bit higher in level (Lvl. 4-5) as opposed to Pinks (Lvl. 1-2). There were also Brown Pon-Pons (Lv. 3-4) but right now, Ice was pretty confident he could take on some who were on par with his level.

    Everything was going smoothly. The green colored Pon-Pon did slightly higher damage (about 10 damage max to be exact) but as Ice was already level 5, he was able to take a few hits without much worry. His maximum HP already reached about 190 after becoming level 5 with an added 10 points of HP per level. Another pop up appeared after his sixth kill, stating that he¡¯s reached level 6 and brought his HP total to a full 200.

    Ice felt pretty good. He was hunting and leveling up at a good pace and he was slowly getting the hang of fighting monsters. Then something unexpected happened ¨C a green Pon-Pon he apparently missed killing suddenly came in front of him and spewed out green mist. It didn¡¯t take long for Ice to realize what it was ¨C poison.

    It seems that in his elation, Ice pretty much forgot all the data he researched on including the fact that this particular Pon-Pon type also used poison mist to attack. It shaved 10 points out of his HP every 5 seconds and, although it won¡¯t actually completely drain him, it also served as a signal for other green Pon-Pon near them to gather and attack en masse; bringing up a high possibility of being ganked to death once his escape routes were sealed.

    Ice was also unable to bring any Antidotes with him, making the situation he was in pretty dire. Cursing himself for his carelessness, Ice made a break for it in order to avoid being killed by small, cute and cuddly creatures. He wasn¡¯t keen on using the Teleportation Stone because it was a valuable commodity and Ice thought he could still manage to outrun the Pon-Pons with a little leeway since they were relatively slower; having no limbs and all.

    Making it back to the entrance of the village with barely any HP remaining, Ice fell down, mentally exhausted from the ordeal. The poison effect had already dissipated so he should recover gradually once he rests up.

    ¡°___Damn! That was incredibly stupid of me! I was completely absorbed by the atmosphere. The excitement of hunting and leveling up made me forget crucial data. I can¡¯t let this happen again¡­¡±

    After a short moment of self reflection, Ice decided to call it a day, taking note to buy some Antidotes from Mr. Findor before resuming hunting the next day.

    ***

    With some Light Antidotes to cure less potent poisons on hand, Ice resumed hunting the following morning, remembering to take careful consideration of his surroundings.

    ¡°___There won¡¯t be any surprises this time. I¡¯m going to pick this area clean!¡±

    He hunted down the Pon-Pons with impunity. He didn¡¯t let a single one escape. Apparently, Ice held a bit of a grudge about what happened last time, so he was even more tenacious in hunting down the furry little creatures. He was surprisingly spiteful.

    Ice killed off the green Pon-Pons before they had the chance to use their poison mist attack, indicated by their bodies bulging up before spewing the nasty stuff all over their foes.

    ¡°___That won¡¯t work on me a second time! Now drop dead bastards!!!¡±

    Before long, the entire area was stripped clean of any green Pon-Pon presence. After his hunting spree, Ice was able to gain additional levels. He was now currently level 9, with about 20% more XP to go before reaching level 10.

    Ice used up his SPs, increasing his stats further. His Strength was now 27 and his Agility increased to 20. It was now possible for him to hunt the lower leveled Pon-Pons without the use of weapons. This made him want to try something out ¨C namely leveling up his Unarmed Combat Mastery Skill. He¡¯d been putting it off for a while but now seemed to be the perfect opportunity to start raising it.

    Ice proceeded to the pink Pon-Pon area and unequipped his Hunting Knife. He then began to give a beating to the unfortunate creatures. He punched and kicked them to submission, grabbing them by the fur if they ever attempted to escape.

    Ice brought up a recently captured Pon-Pon to eye level and gave it an admonishing look. ¡°Now that¡¯s not good. You can¡¯t just run off on me like that. You have to stay put while I pound you to the ground for XP. Don¡¯t worry though. I will never forget your sacrifice¡­¡± He was saying it with a calm, soothing voice but the contents were not calm or peaceful at all!

    The Pon-Pons were not convinced one bit. They started to run away immediately the instant they saw Ice, and he gave chase like a madman, delivering fast, accurately timed strikes furiously to down every Pon-Pon he caught up with. This went on for a while and the ensuing onslaught was beyond words.

    Ice actually had occasional fits of [1]Eighth Grader Syndrome and he was currently indulging in one such episode. It sure sucked for those at the receiving end of his rampage though. He even caused an incident that would forever live in infamy with the kids of Maleena village.

    ***

    One day, while Ice was indulging in his Pon-Pon extermination spree as usual, a group of kids decided to take a small stroll just out side the village. It was relatively safe since the Pon-Pons were originally not innately aggressive and would only really attack when provoked. And, as previously mentioned, they were actually pretty cute.

    The Pon-Pons really looked like the small plush toys kids back on Earth would enjoy buying or getting from those UFO Catcher machines in arcades. It turns out they were pretty popular with the kids in El Fabula. Some children of well-to-do families or noble houses even commissioned Monster Tamers to catch some so they could keep them as pets. The kids from Maleena just contented themselves with watching from afar.

    Now what would happen if these innocent youngsters were to witness the rampaging Ice killing off their beloved Pon-Pons by the droves? Seeing him catch and lift one up on one hand by the horn (which eerily looked like a man grabbing a severed head) with an evil grin on his face; the children were traumatized.

    They went off running back towards the village and straight to their rooms and refused to come out for days. When the adults finally got them to come out, they all asked the same question to their parents ¨C ¡®If I¡¯m a bad kid, will the Pon-Pon Man come to get me?¡¯. Thus, the legend of the Pon-Pon Man which scares even the naughtiest of brats to behave came to be.

    ***

    One may wonder as to why Ice was so nonchalant with the act of hunting the sorry creatures. It¡¯s just that he was used to it.

    Back when he was a kid, Ice was often tasked to help with catching and slaughtering the chickens their family raised in the province and preparing them to be cooked for daily meals. Same with their goats and pigs. He was used to this kind of stuff if it was for sustenance. After all, these animals were raised to be eaten. It just felt natural to him.

    He viewed hunting and killing monsters in the same context. Chickens, goats and pigs were for food. Pon-Pons and other monsters were for XP. For him, they were fundamentally the same ¨C both necessary for living. So when he said he would never forget their sacrifice, he was actually pretty serious about it.

    Of course we could argue that you really don¡¯t have to eat meat in order to live. Same with hunting monsters and leveling up. But just as Ice wasn¡¯t all that keen of going full-on vegan, he was also just as apprehensive of sitting on his haunches and waiting for things to be resolved or living a quiet life in Maleena. So that was that.

    But even having said this, a sorry sight was still a sorry sight. Ice was relentless. He had already knocked down countless numbers of the unfortunate creatures. It was genocide! The greatest threat ever to befall Pon-Pon kind!!!

    They let out cries of despair! Will they ever be saved from this sorry plight? Then, from across the horizon, a saviour came! It¡¯s a bird! It¡¯s a plane! No, its¡­

    ¡°A mini-boss huh? Heh! It looks quite tough. Can¡¯t take this one out unarmed it seems¡­¡± Ice re-equipped his Hunting Knife and prepared for the inevitable confrontation.

    A MINI-BOSS!!! Unfortunately, this guy didn¡¯t wear a cape. Nor did it have its underwear over some spandex tights. Heck, it didn¡¯t even have legs! It was actually a huge red Pon-Pon that had a sharp look and a scar that ran across from its left eye to its cheek. It also had something that looked like a mustache on. As its name bar indicated, it was called ¡®Don Pon-Pon¡¯!

    The Don Pon-Pon stood between Ice and the other Pon-Pons with an indignant demeanor.

    *Poooon! (How dare you do this to my brethren! You shall pay dearly for this transgression human!)

    ¡°Oh yeah?! Make me!¡±

    *Poooon! Pooooon! (Insolent cur! Engarde!)

    And the battle between Ice and the Don Pon-Pon mini-boss commenced.

    ***

    The Don was deceptively agile despite its large size (reaching about half of Ices¡¯ full height with a rotund body). It used hit and run tactics and piled on the pressure, using the surrounding rocks and trees as launch points to perform attacks like Spanish luchadors. All that was missing was a mask!

    Fortunately, Ice was still able to keep up thanks to Seas training and the attack pattern data he memorized. He accurately read the attacks and countered accordingly. He couldn¡¯t avoid all the attacks though and still took a considerable amount of damage every time he was hit.

    It was the same for the Don too however. He had a considerable amount of HP but his defense was lacking. He also took quite a bit of damage from Ices¡¯ counters. The Dons large size also made it easier for Ices¡¯ attacks to hit.

    They fought to the limits of their abilities without budging an inch, giving no quarter. Truly a valiant fight worthy of a championship match! Before long, both their HPs reached critical.

    *Pooon! (Hmmm¡­ Well fought human. You maybe an enemy but your strength and tenacity is worthy of mention¡­)

    ¡°Hah! You¡¯re quite the character yourself. You sure you¡¯re just level 12?¡±

    There was born respect out of the clashing of two equally skilled fighters in battle! In both of their eyes dwelt an faint glimmer of admiration for each other that was not there before.

    *Pooon! (Don¡¯t take me for any run-off-the-mill level 12 monster! I¡¯m called mini-boss for a reason you know!)

    ¡°Damn straight! Now then, seeing as we¡¯re both at the end of our ropes here, let¡¯s go ahead and end this shall we?¡±

    *Poooon! (Very well. I shall put all my spirit in to this next attack! Prepare yourself!)

    ¡°I was born ready. Come on!¡± Ice readily taunted the Don.

    The Dons body glowed red, signalling its preparation for its most powerful attack ¨C Don¡¯s Full Body Press (Lvl. 3). Ice braced himself and concentrated all his senses to reading the attack, committing all his energy to perform a perfectly timed counter.

    It was over in moments.

    *Pooon¡­ (Heh¡­ It¡¯s the end of the line it seems¡­)

    ¡°¡­Yeah.¡±

    *Pooon? (What¡¯s your name adventurer?)

    ¡°¡­Ice. The name¡¯s Ice.¡±

    *Pooon¡­ (Ice, is it? Very well. I shall remember that name¡­)

    The Don Pon-Pon collapsed and turned to dust, dropping several items.

    [Don Pon-Pons Horns] Crafting Material ¨C Rare: Don Pon-Pons large and shiny horns. Useless as material for weapons but seems to be an ingredient for a rare potion.

    [Don Pon-Pons Mustache] Crafting Material ¨C Rare: Don Pon-Pons dandy mustache. Can be made into a flashy accessory with questionable value.

    [Royal Ginseng] Consumable ¨C Rare: Potent energy and vigour giving consumable. Raises HP by 30% and Str by 20 for 1 hour.

    He also gained four levels. He he gained one level previously after the pink Pon-Pon genocide bringing his level up to 10. And now, with the XP gained from defeating the Don, his level went up to 13. His Unarmed Combat Mastery was now level 4, with just about 8 Skill XP points left to reach level 5.

    After putting the items inside his inventory, Ice looked to the setting sun with eyes tinged with melancholy.

    ¡°___That was a good fight¡­ Adios¡­ amigo.¡±

    Ice set of for Maleena with a slight air of sadness enveloping him.

    ***

    After a couple days of intensive hunting, Ices¡¯ level had shot up to 18. He¡¯s hunted most of the monsters near the area around the village and had gathered quite a number of items and equipment from the monster drops.

    His weapon changed to a Dirk (Atk +40) and his armor and accessories were also upgraded. He currently had Fur Hat (Def +15), Scale Jerkin (Def + 25), Scale Gloves (Def +10), and Forest Boots (Def +15 / Agi +5) on ¨C all dropped by monsters that ranged from levels 13-15 like the Bulb-Eyes and Dire Hounds.

    His goal of reaching level 20 was not that far off now. 20 was the required level in order for Ice to take the Class Change exam so he can advance to a Basic Class. He decided to redouble his efforts now that he was in the final stretches.

    Ice moved to a new area further into the wilderness where level 19-20 monsters dwelt. He¡¯s already scanned the area a couple of times before and took note of the possible ambush and choke points. He¡¯s also made efforts to observe the monsters roaming the area and collected data on them. He collated all the information he gathered using the Record option in the Menu screen which he already activated using the Record Tablet.

    It allowed him to use a holographic keyboard-like projection that he could then use to type and save anything he liked in the Record screen. It was pretty handy for data gathering. It was also eco-friendly since it¡¯s paperless! So much win!

    After a quick review of the data, Ice made final checks to his status screen to make sure everything was in order before beginning the days hunt.

    Name: Ice

    Level: 18

    Class: ¡ïInitiate

    HP: 360

    MP: 85

    EP: 85

    Str: 44 (+40)

    Def: 10 (+65)

    Agi: 30 (+5)

    Dex: 10

    Int: 10

    Luk: 5

    Skills: Passive HP Recovery / Basic Adventuring / Ancient Blessing / Unarmed Combat Mastery (Lvl. 7) / Keen Eye (Lvl. 4)

    He¡¯d decided to go with the Str/Agi build for now. His equipment still provided adequate Def and he barely got hit by the monsters anyway just as long as he kept his wits about.

    His HP now totalled 360. It seemed that he received more HP points when he reaches a certain threshold rather then the usual 10. He gained 50 HP when he leveled up to 10 so he assumed that he¡¯ll receive more when he reaches levels that are multiples of ten. His MP and EP are both 85. He hadn¡¯t had much use for them yet because he didn¡¯t have a lot of Active Skills that used them up.

    His Unarmed Combat Mastery also increased in level quite fast thanks to a little exploit he discovered by chance. He found that it actually still gained Skill XP even if he¡¯s had a weapon equipped just as long as he mixes some bare handed strikes, kicks, headbutts and all sorts of other physical moves when he attacked.

    He fully took advantage of this fact and beat up monsters with a combination of slashing and striking attacks. He even did a Mike and bit their ears off ¨C if they had one that is. Otherwise he¡¯d settle for a couple low blows or uncalled for headbutts. It had worked like a charm and now the Skill is up to Lv. 7 with a 25% bonus to Unarmed Atk, x3.5 to Unarmed Atk Spd and +11 to Rct. He felt the Rct bonus the most beneficial since he¡¯s able to deal with monster attacks more safely and efficiently now since his reaction speed had increased.

    Satisfied, Ice set off to begin the days hunt. As was his standard procedure, Ice stalked and cornered the monsters in ambush points and proceeded to deal with them as swiftly as possibly to avoid getting the attention of other monsters nearby and being ganged up by multiple targets.

    He¡¯d already tried fighting at least one of the monsters prowling the area (Forest Lynx Lvl.19 and Lesser Goblin Lvl. 20) and determined how many he could take on at any one time based on the damage they gave him and their overall speed and abilities.

    Surprisingly, Ice found the lower leveled Lynx more troublesome because of their fast attacks and coordinated actions when faced as a group. They were unexpectedly even more coordinated than the Dire Hounds which attacked in packs. He determined about three was the limit for hunting without worry of his HP falling to the halfway point. Any more and he might have trouble, especially since he had no Active Attack Skills that could be used to dispatch the monsters faster.

    He was a bit bothered by that actually. He was only able to acquire just one more new Skill called Keen Eye which allowed him to glean a limited amount of data about a particular monster such as HP total when he used it at 2 EP cost. Further level ups would increase the info displayed. Right now he could get the exact HP, level and total XP given. A really useful Skill, but it still didn¡¯t help with killing monsters faster.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Ice eventually just chalked it up to the fact that he was still in a beginner Class so it was a given he didn¡¯t have more burst offense oriented Skills yet.

    ¡°___I¡¯ll just have to work with what I have. No pain no gain, as they say.¡±

    He methodically dispatched the monsters little by little and slowly gained XP. He was able to level up to 19 with no trouble after a round of patient hunting.

    ¡°___This is going well. If nothing goes wrong, I¡¯ll be level 20 within the day.¡±

    With renewed enthusiasm, Ice hunted every single monster he could get his hands on while being wary of any nasty surprises that may pop up at any time like mini-bosses. He¡¯d fought a couple mini-bosses after his encounter with the Don a couple days back.

    His Forest Boots actually dropped from one such mini-boss called a Prime Hound. It was the Dire Hound mini-boss and it¡¯s swift and accurate attacks gave him trouble. Ice managed to kill it by the skin of his teeth and was the closest call he¡¯d had since his encounter with the Sable Wolf.

    He even killed it by mimicking what Sea did when she killed the Wolf a little, attacking its legs first to make its speed drop and finishing it by stabbing it at the back of the head. It wasn¡¯t as swift nor elegant as what Sea did but Ice still felt a sense of accomplishment.

    There were no mini-boss encounters this time though. But Ice still managed to get his level up to 20 with no problems.

    ¡°___Alright! I¡¯ve managed to get to level 20. Next would be taking the test. I¡¯ve got to keep up the momentum and upgrade to Basic Class soon. Time to let Sea know for that letter of recommendation.¡±

    He proceeded to go back with a light, excited gait.

    ***

    ¡°You finally did it! You reached level 20! Way to go Ice!¡±

    Ice was greeted by a happy looking Sea and was immediately congratulated for his achievement. Ice smiled in return. But something about it bothered him a bit.

    ¡°Uh, thanks. But I haven¡¯t even told you I reached level 20 yet. How¡¯d you know?¡±

    Sea made a surprised face and averted her eyes nervously. ¡°Eh?¡­ Uh¡­ Ah¡­ Y¡¯know. You looked really happy so I just figured you finally did it is all. Aha ha¡­¡±

    ¡°Pssh. Yeah right. You were basically just stalking him whenever he went out for hunts right? I see you tailing him practically every day. Seem¡¯s you¡¯re really ¡®concerned¡¯ about him huh sis.¡± Suddenly, Ein, who was sporting a rather mischievous grin, chimed in.

    Sea¡¯s eyes widened like saucers and quickly turned towards Ein. ¡°Wha-? N-NOOO!¡±

    ¡°Angry sister incoming! Abandon ship!!!¡±

    Ein swiftly went out the open window to the front porch and made his escape.

    ¡°Uh¡­ W-Well¡­ Ehehe¡­ Um, Ice¡­ It isn¡¯t like that you know. I wasn¡¯t s-stalking you or anything. I was just worried if you would be attacked again so I followed you. For protection purposes! So, um¡­¡±

    Sea was desperately giving excuses while blushing and twiddling her thumbs. It was pretty cute. Ice fought back the sudden urge to hug her for being so cute and composed himself.

    ¡°Y-Yeah. I don¡¯t particularly mind. It was for my safety right? Then that¡¯s fine.¡± Ice was waving his hands in front of him frantically. He wasn¡¯t quite sure who he was making excuses for.

    Sea looked at him with teary eyes. ¡°R-Really! You don¡¯t think I¡¯m creepy or something?¡­¡±

    ¡°N-Not at all. I don¡¯t think that in the least.¡± Ice shook his head rapidly and managed a stiff smile.

    ¡°Really? Ehehe. Thank goodness. I wouldn¡¯t know what to do otherwise so¡­¡±

    ¡°Y-Yeah. Ahaha¡­¡±

    ¡°Ehehe¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡±

    Things quickly turned awkward and both of them had their faces dyed a bright shade of red.

    ¡°Ehem! Don¡¯t you have something else to discuss with my daughter lad?¡±

    ¡°Wha-?!¡±

    ¡°Eh?!¡±

    Mr. Alphonse suddenly broke the awkward atmosphere with a cough.

    ¡°S-Since when were you there father?¡± Sea was visibly shaken and the color of her blush turned even deeper.

    ¡°Since the beginning. Why? Is there any problem?¡± Mr. Alphonse raised an eyebrow and his look implied that him being present when his daughter was busy flirting(?) with a guy was only a matter of fact.

    ¡°N-No! Not at all! Ehehe. Anyway, about the Class Change Test¡­¡± Sea just attempted to brush the issue off. Ice followed suit.

    ¡®Oh! Y-Yeah. The test. Right. Uh, I can actually take it now right?¡±

    ¡°Yup. We can set off immediately if you want. There¡¯s one scheduled for tomorrow after all. I can recommend you the Test Manager right away.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s do that then. Anything else I might need for the test?¡±

    ¡°I think you¡¯ll be fine with your current equipment. Make sure to bring some potions and antidotes too. There¡¯s a monster extermination phase after all.¡±

    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll go get ready then.¡±

    ¡°Ok. Do your best tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Will do.¡±

    ¡°___Tomorrow¡¯s the day then. It¡¯s alright. I did all I can. All that¡¯s left is to do my best.¡±

    Ice slapped his cheeks with his hands to pump himself up and went off to Mr. Findors shop to buy some additional healing items and get ready.

    ***

    Morning came swiftly for Ice, who wasn¡¯t able to sleep much because of excitement and growing anticipation regarding the test. After getting out of bed with a slight yawn, he proceeded to make sure all his preparations were in order, finished his morning routines and went downstairs to find Sea all geared up and ready as well.

    ¡°Ready to go Ice?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Um¡­ Ice? What¡¯s wrong? You¡¯ve been standing still as a statue since a while ago. Don¡¯t tell me your nerves are getting to you? You¡¯ll be fine. I just know it. So cheer up okay.¡±

    Ice has been in a state of shock ever since he saw Seas get-up. Struck speechless, he was currently engaged in frantic internal monologue to calm himself down.¡±

    ¡°___It¡¯s not like this was totally unexpected but¡­ Seriously?! What¡¯s up with that fearsome attack power that tears a mans reason to shreds!? This is just totally unfair! Uncle! This just did a blitzkrieg on my poor otaku heart!¡±

    Ice was currently being totally captivated by the equipment Sea had on her. It consisted of the standard female armor found commonly in any fantasy setting RPGs, animes, light novels and mangas. But that was exactly the point. It was, in all honesty, incredibly risque!!!

    Sea¡¯s current equipment consisted of the standard armor set she wore during her duties as a squad captain serving in the Ricksvale Principality Elite Guard. It consisted of a breastplate, armored skirt, gauntlets and greaves.

    But the armor was incredibly form fitting, totally and unreservedly flaunting Seas alluring body lines. The breastplate hugged the contours of her chest and was open at the top, showing off her cleavage. It would be better to describe it as a metal bikini rather than a breastplate.

    The skirt only had light armor attached to each side of her hips and its main body was a pristine white, and tantalizingly short pleated mini-skirt. Her midriff was totally exposed; her slim waist open to plain view.

    And the greaves that reached the below the knee was worn over white knee socks decorated with lace, accentuating her shapely legs. The ¡®[2]zettai ryouiki¡¯ was like a work of pure art, enough to bring tears of joy to any Otaku.

    ¡°___This is just standard. I should already know better! But damn! Aaaaaarg!!!¡±

    The unexpected attack totally caught Ice unawares. His Otaku heart wasn¡¯t prepared for this sensory onslaught.

    ¡°___I mean, I know it¡¯s pretty normal for this type of armor to exist in this kind of world. But seeing it for real is still shocking. Does this even qualify as armor? It doesn¡¯t even protect the important bits!!!¡±

    It was complete and utter defeat. Ice was already struck down by the overwhelming power of Sea¡¯s current get-up before even attempting the Class Change Test. He knelt down on the floor, completely submitting to the sublime force known to mankind as ¡®Eros¡¯.

    ¡°It¡¯s no good¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ It¡¯s my loss¡­¡±

    ¡°Eeeeh?!!! You haven¡¯t even started taking the test yet! Don¡¯t let those nerves get the better of you! Pull yourself together!¡±

    Sea was frantically shaking the dejected Ice who had his pride for being a respectable adult smashed to pieces. She knelt while spreading her legs wide, a slight flash of red flitting in and out of his field of vision. Ice judged it would be complete K.O. if things proceeded further so he hurriedly stood up and took deep breaths to compose himself.

    ¡°___Hooo haaa. Hooo haaa. It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m calm. I need to reach a state of complete stillness. Auuuummm¡­¡±

    Ices¡¯ face slowly revealed a look of calm indifference. Success! He narrowly avoided getting his pride destroyed any further.

    ¡°Um¡­ Are you already okay?¡±

    ¡°Y-Yeah. Sorry about that. I¡¯m alright now.¡±

    ¡°Thank goodness! Shall we set off then?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s do this!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the spirit! Just keep calm and you¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    Sea brought her hands together and smiled cheerfully, giving Ice words of encouragement. She jumped lightly, resulting in a glimpse of a fluttering white lace petticoat entering Ices¡¯ gaze.

    ¡°That¡¯ll be hard with you looking like that¡­¡± he muttered under his breath, trying to prevent his nostrils from flaring up any further to keep himself from being fully labeled a pervert.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    ¡°N-Nothing! Let¡¯s get going Sea. I¡¯m itching to finish the test and get promoted.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s go!!!¡±

    Ice followed a cheerful Sea out of the house and proceeded to head to the transport point near the center of the village.

    ***

    ¡°Are all of your things ready? You didn¡¯t forget anything did you?¡±

    Mrs. Romany fussed over her daughter just like a lot of mothers would. Sea had a complicated expression on as she did so. Ice found it charming and smiled at the scene.

    ¡°No mother, I¡¯m all set. Ice is too. Right Ice?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m good to go.¡±

    ¡°Make sure to bring some souvenirs back sis.¡±

    Ein was as cheeky as always and was asking for some souvenirs from the capital.

    ¡°Good luck kid. We¡¯re rooting for ya!¡±

    Mr.Galen gave Ice another bear hug and ruffled his hair. Strangely, Ice didn¡¯t really object to the treatment. His father would always do the same thing when he was a kid after all.It reminded him of those days.

    Most of the people in the village were gathered near the transport circle to see the pair off. Words of encouragement were given out by the villagers and made Ices¡¯ mood feel light.

    ¡°You¡¯ll be coming back right away after the test ends right? Your leave period isn¡¯t over yet correct?¡±

    ¡°Yes father. I¡¯m just going to accompany Ice to get him approved for taking the test. Besides, I¡¯m worried about the members of my squad so I¡¯ll just go take a quick peek.¡±

    Sea didn¡¯t really have to accompany Ice since a letter of recommendation would have been enough. But she insisted she come along because she had business in the capital as well.

    ¡°Lad, you and my daughter are going on a trip together. Just the two of you. Alone. Without me there. Now I¡¯m sure I¡¯ve already made it clear to you when we first met but just in case¡­ If you ever make a move on my daughter¡­¡±

    Mr. Alphonse was giving off a menacing atmosphere as always and whispered words of ¡®caution¡¯ to Ice, who felt chills run down his back once again. It made it obvious that Mr. Alphonse was being pretty serious regarding the threat. Ice managed a frantic nod. But then, Mrs. Romany got in between them and pinched her husband in the butt.

    ¡°YOWWW!¡±

    ¡°Now just what kind of nonsense are you whispering to the poor young man honey? Ice dear, don¡¯t you worry. Just go ahead and seize the moment if and when it comes. You have my express approval.¡±

    ¡°Honey! What the heck¡¯s gotten into yo-OOOOWWW!¡±

    Mrs. Romany pinched her husbands butt cheek harder while giving Ice a wink and a teasing smile.

    ¡°J-Just what do you mean by that ma¡¯am? Haha¡­¡±

    ¡°I wonder?¡­ Fine. Go ahead at your own pace. It¡¯ll happen eventually¡­¡±

    Ice was now subjected to a different kind of pressure and was backing down. Sea noticed the awkward atmosphere and hurried him along.

    ¡°W-What are you saying mother. I-It¡¯s too early for that. L-Let¡¯s go Ice!¡±

    ¡°O-Okay!¡±

    After setting the coordinates to the Ricksvale capital, Ice and Sea teleported off.

    ***

    The transport point was where one ended up whenever one uses a Teleportation Stone set to a particular area. Ice and Sea were currently using it to make a journey to the capital in practically an instant.

    Because of the possible security risks, the transport point that was located at the capital was set a ways off from the actual city itself, in plain view to the sentry guards manning the watch towers that were placed all around the city walls. You also needed to officially register at the City Administration Office to be able to use it.

    Sea used her authority as an Elite Guard Captain to let Ice use the gate. It was convenient for him but he also wondered if this could be used as a security loop hole somewhat. Sea just laughed at the notion and told him that anyone who made it to officer rank and above are thoroughly screened and trustworthy. Ice just let it slide. It wasn¡¯t really his problem anyway. If they judged it to be safe, than that¡¯s that.

    ¡°Here we are Ice! The capital city.¡±

    Sea gestured towards the city scape once they entered the gate with a hint of pried in her eyes. Not that it was unwarranted. It really was an amazing view.

    The white stone walls, the numerous colorful buildings with red tiled roofs and the people going to and fro filling the city streets ¨C all of it evoked a feeling of liveliness and energy. It certainly looked and felt like a bustling fantasy metropolis.

    There were quite a number of colorful characters roaming the streets ¨C armored knights, wild looking mercenaries, robed men and women who very much looked the magician part, demi-humans such as beastmen ([2]Kemonomimi!) and even elegant looking elves. They all mingled in with the regular populace and provided an unfamiliar and exotic tableau. It was truly the first time that Ice felt he was really in a different world. And it was all presented in glorious 2D HD Color! Sweet!

    ¡°Well Ice? Isn¡¯t it just wonderful! It¡¯s one of the largest cities in the continent and is very liberal regarding policies in trade and the treatment of different races. People from different parts of the continent frequently come to Ricksvale because of this. We even have some people from different continents visit. The Ricksvale royal family are all very wonderful people. And our current prince reagent, Prince Alder Falwynd Ricksvale III, is a truly great man and an amazing ruler. We¡¯ve never been this prosperous. It truly is an amazing place Ice!¡±

    Seas eyes were twinkling with glee. She was behaving just as she did when he first met her in Maleena. Looks like she¡¯s very proud of this place too.

    ¡°Haha. Well, if you¡¯re that enthusiastic about it then I suppose I¡¯m sold.¡±

    ¡°Really? I¡¯ll take you to some great places in the city later. First comes the test. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Ice followed Sea towards an imposing building situated near the center of the city.

    ***

    ¡°Okay. We¡¯re here. This is the local headquarters of the CQMA here in Ricksvale. Come on, let¡¯s go in. I¡¯ll introduce you to the Test Manager. It¡¯s going to start soon.¡±

    Sea guided Ice towards the reception desk and gave their introductions to the desk officer. They were then guided into the interior of the building and were asked to wait in a fairly large and tastefully decorated room. Ice had never been to somewhere so posh so he began eyeing the things inside the room with an amazed look.

    ¡°___Looks like it¡¯s quite the large and affluent organization. Then again, they did manage the affairs of all of the adventurers currently active in the world. This much is normal I guess.¡±

    Not long after, a tall and smartly dressed woman entered the room. She had her honey blonde hair tied in a neat bun and wore half rimmed glasses. She looked very much like a young school principal or a strict office boss. Sea immediately stood up and gave her a tight hug.

    ¡°Misha! It¡¯s been so long. How are you? I didn¡¯t know you would be the one administering the test today.¡±

    It seems her name was Misha. Quite the cute name for someone who was so stern looking. As Ice was thinking that, Misha¡¯s lips parted into a dazzling smile that made him take back his previous impression.

    ¡°___Well what do you know. She IS cute. A smile really does make all the difference.¡±

    As Ice was having these random thoughts and slightly nodding his head in approval, the two women engaged in a happy conversation about their reunion.

    ¡°The last time was when we both finally got our A+ licenses Sea. I¡¯m also glad to see you¡¯re doing well. I heard about your being promoted to Squad Captain as well. I¡¯m proud of you.¡±

    ¡°Ehehe. Thank you. I didn¡¯t really think I¡¯d get the position so soon too. You think I¡¯ll do a good job?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re already doing well with being Princess Thelma¡¯s personal guard squad right? I think you¡¯ll be just fine Sea. Now then, is this the gentleman you wanted to recommend?¡±

    The smile immediately disappeared from Mishas lips and she gave an appraising look towards Ice.

    ¡°___Man. That look sure piles on the pressure. But some people might surprisingly like that sort of thing ma¡¯am. Careful who you do that to. You never know¡­¡± Ice was mentally making somewhat distasteful comments as he tried to match Misha¡¯s stare.

    After a few moments, Misha turned to Sea with a complicated look on her face.

    ¡°¡­Honestly, he looks a bit sloppy with that slovenly face of his. You sure he¡¯s got what it takes Sea? You do know the consequences right?¡±

    ¡°___Geh! I guess my expression was a little off. I really need to ease up on these pointless monologues.¡± Ices¡¯ brow twitched a bit from the unflattering description.

    ¡°Ehehe. Sure Ice might look a little hopeless and a bit perverted, but I¡¯m positive he¡¯ll do well as an adventurer. I taught him first hand so I should know.¡±

    Sea smiled radiantly and proceeded to back Ice up. Or, at least, she seemed to be. There some rather awkward descriptions about his character mixed in as well.

    ¡°___Ugh! I¡¯m really not sure how to take that. Do I really look perverted?¡± The creases on his brow increased further. He was taking serious blows to his self image here! Women sure are merciless.

    ¡°Haaah¡­ Alright then. Since you trust him that much, I guess I¡¯ll believe in him too. Mr Ice.¡± Misha let out a resigned sigh and called Ices¡¯ attention.

    ¡°Y-Yes.¡±

    ¡°The test starts in ten minutes. The first one would be a written exam. Get your materials from the front desk and proceed to the examination room located at the end of the first corridor to the left. I bid you good luck. I¡¯ll be seeing you then Sea.¡±

    Misha went out of the room after some curt instructions and some words of parting for Sea. The sound of her foot steps echoing in the hallway.

    ¡°Well then, good luck to you Ice. The written exam is just about basic knowledge that you gained while being an Initiate so I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll do just fine. I¡¯ll be waiting for you in the main hall.¡±

    ¡°Alright. I¡¯m going.¡±

    The Class Change Test was finally underway.

    -Class Change Test End-

    [1]Eighth Grader Syndrome ¨C Chuunibyou in Japan. Slang term referring to a certain stage of life (often about 2nd year in middle school or, of course, Eighth grade) wherein an individual has the tendency to behave in unusual, sometimes humorous behavior ¨C like believing they have supernatural powers, having an overly dramatic alias and forms of speech or acting all anti-social.

    Some adults purportedly still behave like this. Ice happens to be one of the few who do. In his case, he likes to pretend he¡¯s a kaijuu (Giant monsters popular in Japanese pop culture) and behaves accordingly. Only this time, it was a bit exacerbated by his current abilities as an adventurer and his overall situation.

    [2]Zettai Ryouiki ¨C Literally, the Japanese phrase ¡°zettai ryouiki¡± (½~ŒîIÓò) means ¡°absolute territory¡±. But for Otaku, it means something else¡ªbut something nonetheless absolute. The term refers to the area of exposed flesh between high socks and a hemline. Some even fuss over details like exactly how many centimeters the space of flesh exposure must be.

    [3] Kemonomimi ¨C roughly translated as ¡°Animal Ears¡± or ¡°Beast Ears¡±. It denotes humanoid characters that possess animal-like features such as animal ears (obviously). Also see term ¡°Moe¡±.

    *Notes: You can not level up upon reaching certain Level thresholds in El Fabula. You start leveling up again after promoting until you reach the next threshold. By that time, you''ll need to promote again and so on. But the ones after Basic Class will no longer require adventurers to take a formal test at CQMA facilities. Instead, one will encounter them as Quest type tests with different requirements.

    There will be hints given out that are accessible through a sub-menu. But these are mostly vague outlines and clues. More common Classes find it easier to promote since there is already a wealth of information recorded.  Guilds provide them for free in order to bolster their ranks. It''s one of the reasons why people desire to join guilds.

 Chapter 8: Exclusive Class

    Ice entered the exam room after getting his exam materials and scanned it for a vacant seat. He found a spot near the front and proceeded to make himself comfortable. He was, however, stopped with a yell from somebody who just entered.

    ¡°Hey! New guy! Yeah, I¡¯m talkin you! That¡¯s Mr. Nigel¡¯s seat. Don¡¯t you just go ahead and take it for yourself.¡±

    The voice came from a mean looking young man that seemed to have his face permanently fixed into a scowl. Ice directed questioning eyes towards an exam participant nearby that seemed to ask ¡®The seats are designated?¡¯ and found him shaking his head slowly but shrugged afterwards seemingly saying ¡®No. But these kinds of things happen. Best of luck.¡¯ and turned away.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong squirt? What¡¯s with that stupid look on your face? Don¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t know this seat was reserved for my master huh?¡±

    Ice had pretty much guessed what this development would lead to next, but tried to appease the scowling man anyway. It won¡¯t be good to cause anymore of a scene.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry sir. It¡¯s my first time taking the exam so I didn¡¯t know this seat was taken. Please pardon my rudeness.¡±

    It seems the man wasn¡¯t convinced and still kept his confrontational attitude.

    ¡°What do you mean new? You think that¡¯s enough of an excuse?! I think I still need to drag you in front of my master so you can apologize proper and all. And even then, I¡¯m not sure he¡¯s gonna let this insult pass so easily.¡±

    Ice tried not to let the guy¡¯s juvenile behavior get to him too much and fought the urge to punch him square in the face. He continued to apologize and hoped this incident would just pass unnoticed.

    A young man with an arrogant air entered the room a few moments later and went straight to where the pair was arguing.

    ¡°Is something the matter Lem? What are you doing with this sorry looking chap here?¡±

    ¡°Master Nigel! I was just lecturing this fellow about how rude it was to try and take a seat in your personal chair sir! Hey you! This here is my esteemed master, Lord Nigel Falwynd Garland. Bow your head good and proper and pay your respects commoner!¡±

    Ice glanced at the young man the guy with the constant scowl introduced as his master and came to one conclusion:

    ¡°___Oh boy. Odious jerk detected. I bet he¡¯ll be all condescending and stuff. I see your type a lot idiot. And you¡¯re usually two-bit side characters or villains who only have minor roles and serve as punching bags. YOU bow down before ME twerp!¡±

    ¡°Greetings my lord. I¡¯m truly sorry about this matter. Can you find it in your heart to forgive this humble commoner.¡±

    A complete 180! Ice completely suppressed his urge to go all ¡®rage mode¡¯ on these guys. He thought it unwise to make enemies this early. He felt it¡¯ll save him a lot of trouble later on if these guys didn¡¯t pay any unwarranted attention towards him.

    ¡°Hmmm¡­ No matter. You don¡¯t seem very bright anyway. Let him go Lem. Talking to him would be just a waste of time.¡±

    It seems he dismissed him as nothing special. Good.

    ¡°You got lucky punk. Don¡¯t let me catch you again or you¡¯ll be sorry!¡±

    ¡°Certainly. Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me.¡±

    Ice hurriedly went over to the back of the room and looked for any more available seats. Then someone called him over in a low voice.

    ¡°Hey! Heeey! New guy! Over here. Sit beside me. This one¡¯s empty.¡±

    It was a slender young man with delicate features. Or so Ice thought. Actually, closer inspection revealed an all too feminine face. She was wearing something like a flat cap and masculine clothes so one would mistake her as male if one only gave her a quick glance.

    ¡°Thanks miss. That¡¯s really kind of you.¡±

    ¡°!!!¡­¡±

    The girl suddenly made a surprised face after Ices¡¯ words of thanks.

    Ice made a surprised face himself, but for an entirely different reason. ¡°___Don¡¯t tell me she really expected that get up to fool anyone.¡± he thought, slightly amused by the silliness of the assumption.

    ¡°¡­How did you know?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°How did you know I was a woman? Even the staff didn¡¯t notice!¡±

    ¡°Eh? Seriously? But, I mean, you have a really pretty face so¡­¡± A bit taken aback by her sudden outburst, Ice just blurted out what was in his head without much thought.

    ¡°!!!¡­¡±

    The girl made another surprised face, this time with a hint of redness in her cheeks and turned away.

    ¡°But Rosseane said this disguise was perfect¡­¡± she mumbled.

    ¡°Umm¡­ Miss?¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes? Ugh, never mind. You have a really good eye.¡±

    ¡°Uh, yeah. My name¡¯s Ice. Pleased to meet you miss¡­?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m Th-¡­¡±

    The girl hesitated when she was about to introduce herself, puzzling Ice. Suspicious. Very suspicious.

    ¡°T-Thalia! Y-Yep. My name¡¯s Thalia. Pleased to meet you too Ice.¡±

    ¡°___That¡¯s obviously a lie. You just averted your eyes miss. Oh, well. I guess she has her reasons. And she did invite me to sit beside her.¡±

    Ice decided to not sweat the details once again and made himself comfortable. Besides, he¡¯d rather sit with a pretty girl than a bunch of stern looking guys. Still though, he was curious as to why this girl would want to do something as silly as dressing up as a boy. Most of the anime heroines that do that turn out to be royalty on the run or something. Ice decided to probe a little bit after all.

    ¡°Is it your first time taking the test too?¡± he asked

    ¡°Well¡­ kind of. I¡¯ve had the chance to observe the test proceedings a number of times but this is the first time I¡¯m actually taking part in the test myself.¡±

    Ice was surprised by her answer because of the implications it entailed. He probed further.

    ¡°Eh? You can do that? Well sure I heard that the test procedure hasn¡¯t actually changed all that much, but you can

    actually just come in as a spectator? That still seems far too lax for a so called test.¡±

    ¡°Err¡­ Well¡­ Y-You still gotta have the right connections in order to be allowed to watch.¡±

    ¡°Connections? What kind of connections?¡±

    ¡°J-Just connections. Y-You know¡­ The super special ones.¡±

    ¡°So does that mean you¡¯re actually from a family that can afford to make these so called ¡®super special¡¯ connections¡¯?¡±

    Thalia averted her eyes from Ices¡¯ curious gaze and trembled slightly, hesitating about how to respond. She just went into an outburst once more after not being able to think of any suitable excuse in her panic. ¡°Eh? N-No! Well¡­ Uh¡­ Umm¡­ Aaah! Don¡¯t ask so many questions! Don¡¯t you know it¡¯s rude to ask about a lady¡¯s secrets?¡±

    ¡°So you do have secrets. And I thought you were actually trying to hide the fact that you were a lady.¡± Ice teased in a wry tone.

    ¡°Meanie! Hmph! Why did I even bother helping someone like you.¡±

    Thalia pouted and turned away with a huff. Ice decided to stop teasing her and erased the wry smile plastered on his face.

    ¡°___Geez. This girl is just so fun to tease. I was doing it before I even noticed. She¡¯s really just like Mary¡­¡±

    Mary L. dela Cruz was Ice¡¯s 6 years younger cousin who lived just beside their home in Pangasinan. They¡¯ve been pretty close since they were kids. She was very gullible and he really liked leading her on and teasing her because of her reactions. Their spats would generally be resolved with some chocolate chip cookies anyway.

    She was a bit cheeky and they also had some pretty nasty quarrels from time to time but Ice loved her like the little sister he never had nonetheless. He was constantly worried about her because she just really wore her heart on her sleeve and was really easy to read. He was a bit of the same though so it¡¯s not like he had the right to lecture her.

    This girl, Thalia(?), had the same feel about her as his cousin. Ice felt a bit of nostalgia and melancholy while looking at her sulking figure.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Miss Thalia. Maybe the thing from earlier still has me on edge. Sorry for using you to blow off some steam.¡±

    ¡°Oh honestly! You shouldn¡¯t do that! It was pretty rude!¡±

    ¡®Yeah. I¡¯m reflecting on it. I really am grateful for your help.¡±

    ¡°Hmph! O-Okay. I forgive you. You should be thankful I have such a tolerant heart.¡±

    ¡°Haha. Yeah. Anyway, hope we get along from now on.¡±

    ¡°¡­Likewise.¡±

    The little argument finished with a curt handshake, and, feeling silly about the entire exchange, both of them had wide grins appear on their faces and shared a quiet laugh.

    ¡°What was up with those two back there anyway? Do you know them Miss Thalia?¡±

    ¡°Thalia¡¯s fine. Gives me the shivers being addressed as ¡®Miss¡¯ all the time. Yeah, I know them. That insufferable, disgustingly pompous and pretentious idiot over there is Nigel Falwynd Garland. He¡¯s the heir to the Garland household. His father and the current prince reagent are cousins. And that rude thug with him is Lem Richardson. Believe it or not, he¡¯s actually a butler apprentice, as utterly absurd as that sounds.¡±

    As she described them, Thalia¡¯s face contorted to one filled with utter disgust. It seemed she and them were at least acquainted.

    ¡°So he¡¯s pretty high up in the social hierarchy ladder. Guess that explains why he¡¯s acting like he¡¯s the most important person in here.¡±

    Thalia held an appalled look on her face after Ice''s comment. It seems that statement struck a chord with her.

    ¡°N-Not everybody acts as disgustingly arrogant as he does. We may be nobles but we don¡¯t see acting all self-important as a positive thing either. Please don¡¯t lump us up with that idiot!¡±

    ¡°¡­So, you were a noble lady eh? Now that¡¯s interesting.¡±

    Ice didn¡¯t even mean to lead the conversation in that direction, but Thalia went ahead and spilled the beans on her own.

    ¡°___She really is just like Mary. Never knows when to keep mum for the life of her.¡±

    It seemed that Thalia was only just now realizing her blunder and her brow slowly creased in frustration.

    ¡°F-Forget what I said just now! You heard nothing!¡± she frantically replied, a blush noticeable on her well featured face.

    She was desperately trying to gloss it over. Ice just decided to let it slide after all.

    He gestured towards his ear and stuck his finger in slightly. ¡°I heard nothing. I seem to have something stuck in my ear¡­¡±

    Thalia gave an awkward smile. She apparently knew just how unreasonable she was being and was grateful to Ice for letting go of the matter.

    Ice, in turn, gave her a ¡®think nothing of it¡¯ look and he saw her smile blossom into one so enchanting, he forgot to breathe for a moment.

    ¡°___Gaaah! Why are 2D girls so damn cute?! They tear through my defenses like it was paper...¡±

    (In truth, Ice already had paper thin defenses against a woman¡¯s smile, but let¡¯s just leave that matter be as well and allow him to keep his small measure of pride for being a ¡®mature individual¡¯ shall we.)

    ***

    All the chatter in the room died down as soon as Misha entered and stepped up to the podium in front. She eyed the entire exam room and began speaking after coughing slightly in order to clear her throat a bit.

    ¡°Good day ladies and gentlemen. My name is Misha Klein and I¡¯ll be your Test Administrator for this year¡¯s Class Change Test. As you all might very well know, we are starting with a written exam. I¡¯ll be explaining things for the benefit of the first time takers.

    The questions are all about the basics of being an adventurer and a general test of character. This will not be officially inputted for evaluation by ¡®The System¡¯ but will instead be reviewed by a panel of CQMA officials and judged accordingly.

    All those who do not pass will of course not be given the right to participate in the test proper. So please take this seriously and answer to the best of your knowledge. The exam will be over in exactly 20 minutes. All those who fail to submit their answer sheets within the allotted time will also automatically fail so do not tarry and try to finish it as soon as possible.¡±

    Misha handed out the questionnaire to every table without missing a beat in her explanations. She really fit the strict teacher archetype to a tee. Several people who acted as proctors stood near the walls and made sure that no one made a head start by opening theirs ahead of time.

    ¡°Do you all have your materials ready?¡±

    Everybody nodded their heads in affirmation.

    ¡°Very well, begin.¡±

    Ice quickly turned to the first page of the questionnaire and started answering.

    ***

    Ice was doing pretty well. Most of the questions were about things that were familiar to him ¨C basic knowledge like the functions and effects of the different stats, an Initiate''s two basic skills, monster drops and the like. He was breezing through the questions with a delighted look that seemed to imply he still had plenty to spare. It didn¡¯t take all that long for him to arrive at the final question.

    ¡°___¡¯What does becoming an adventurer mean to you?¡¯ huh. Sure feels like a standard written exam just before a job interview. It even has an essay question.¡± he mused as he marveled at the peculiar resemblance.

    Ice answered it immediately, not taking much time to pause for thought. For him, the answer was already given. It was not that grandiose a reason. One might even call it petty or selfish. But right now, he didn¡¯t care. He was just being honest with himself. He¡¯s failed to do that for the longest time after all.

    He was the very first one to finish.

    ***

    A number of people were seated around a long table in a large room located on the second floor of the CQMA building.

    This was the main conference room and it was presently occupied by several individuals who were busily checking the papers of those who took the exam.

    ¡°Do we have the results?¡± asked a well-built middle aged man whose unruffled beard sported shades of gray. He looked more akin to a mercenary than anything else and looked quite out of place in the academic robes he was currently donning.

    A bespectacled young man nodded and answered in the affirmative.

    ¡°Yes director. All in all, there is a total of 22 participants who passed the written exam.¡±

    The man who was called ¡®director¡¯ stroked his unruly beard and closed his eyes in thought.

    ¡°Hmmm. An average number this time. There really seems to be quite a steep drop in the quality of applicants in these past few years. It¡¯s a little worrying how they care so little for the fundamentals and only put emphasis on things like who has the bigger sword. Haah.¡±

    He made a disappointed sigh and looked to the man seated beside him with curious eyes.

    ¡°I must say Your Highness, you look mightily pleased after perusing through those test papers. Did you find anything interesting? Your daughters answer to the final essay question perhaps. Did she write ¡®So I can please my wonderful daddy¡¯ as the answer?¡±

    He lightly teased his friend, knowing full well how much of a doting parent he was.

    The man addressed as ¡®Your Highness¡¯ looked back and faced his old friend with an incredulous face. He was Lord Alder Falwynd Ricksvale III, current Prince Reagent of the Principality of Ricksvale and long time comrade of the managing director of the CQMA Ricksvale branch, Roald Danhurst.

    ¡°Roald, I¡¯m not that much of a doting father you know. And you certainly have the nerve to tell me that considering you also adore your daughter to the point that she already hates you for it.¡± Lord Alder shot back with a mischievous grin.

    The pairs¡¯ loud laughter echoed throughout the room. They once traveled El Fabula together as adventurers and shared a deep friendship. That was why they could point out each other¡¯s troubles and tease the other with them without much reservation. They were already akin to brothers.

    ¡°But, honestly speaking, both of them really take after their mothers so much. Their willfulness knows no bounds. To think Rosseane would even help her put on a sloppy male disguise and gave her a recommendation letter¡­ My word.¡±

    Director Roald pressed his temples and let out an exasperated sigh.

    ¡°Ahaha. Well, all we can do is watch over them old friend. It¡¯s not like we can win against teenage girls impulses can we.¡±

    Lord Alder patted his friends back, consoling him.

    ¡°You know Roald, my daughter really isn¡¯t the reason for my interest.¡±

    ¡°Hmm? You mean there¡¯s something else?¡±

    ¡°Well, yes. There¡¯s someone whose answer to the final question was the same as mine when I first took the Class Change Test with you way back. It intrigued me a bit.¡±

    Amazement colored the directors face after hearing Lord Alder¡¯s reason.

    ¡°Hooh. The same answer as yours back then is it. I wonder what prompted him to give such an answer.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m wondering myself. Looks like the test this time will be quite interesting.¡±

    ¡°Indeed.¡±

    The two smiled in anticipation as they looked at the paper of the participant named Ice.

    There was only one phrase written at the bottom of the answer sheet ¨C ¡®A shot at redemption¡¯

    ***

    As Misha announced the results, it elicited different responses from the people gathered in the room. Some were jumping up and down in happiness. Some were unabashedly crying their hearts out ¨C either from joy or disappointment. Others kept still in their seats indifferently, waiting for further instructions. Ice was among them.

    He knew this was just the beginning. He took a quick glance at Thalia and found her doing much the same. She glanced back and nodded slightly, acknowledging the fact that she passed herself. Basing from what she said earlier, she¡¯s already witnessed these tests several times as a spectator so she should have also understood that this wasn¡¯t even considered much of an accomplishment. It wasn¡¯t even inputted into ¡®The System for one, meaning that this was more likely nothing more than a formality or a way to weed out the unworthy early.

    Misha motioned for them to settle down and issued the next set of instructions.

    ¡°The ones whose names I called out earlier will follow me to the next test location. The ones who were not called will be escorted out by the staff. This shouldn¡¯t even need any mentioning but I¡¯ll say it just in case: Do not attempt to sneak in with the ones who passed the written exam to try and take the next phase of the test along with them. If you do, we WILL find out. And when we do¡­ Let¡¯s just say it wouldn¡¯t be all that pleasant an experience shall we. Is that understood?¡±

    Her last few words were delivered in such a cold tone, it felt like the temperature in the room dropped significantly. It certainly got the point across. Misha meant business. Everybody (including Ice) was drenched in cold sweat.

    Her lips curved in a thin smile soon afterward, seemingly satisfied.

    ¡°Well, I think we¡¯re all clear regarding that matter. Now then, let¡¯s proceed. All who passed please follow me.¡±

    Misha gestured towards the door and started walking. Ice and the others followed suit. They were lead into a large open room without any decorations or furniture. The floor was inscribed with a large magic-circle like engraving.

    Ice thought it was somewhat familiar. He remembered why after a few minutes of searching his memories. This was the symbol he sees on the surface of a transport point.

    The test proctors closed the doors after confirming that everyone had arrived. Misha promptly issued the next set of instructions afterward.

    ¡°We will now immediately proceed to the second phase. As you can see, this room is one large transport point that will send you to the location where the second phase of the test will take place. Your goal is to hunt down as many monsters as you can in ten minutes. There will be no restrictions on items and equipment so go all out and use everything at your disposal. Good luck ladies and gentlemen.¡±

    After Mishas explanation, the floor glowed brightly, indicating the start of the transport procedure. Ice grasped his weapon tight and his body trembled lightly from anticipation. Now this was more up his alley.

    ¡°___Alright! Now that¡¯s more like it.¡±

    His heart rate increased and sent his burning blood coursing through the rest of his body. His senses were heightened. It was the product of weeks spent tracking, tailing and hunting monsters in the wild as well as Seas battle training.

    His body was tuned into a state of battle preparedness. Though not in the level of seasoned veterans, it was still an impressive feat, considering it¡¯s barely been a few months since Ice got any formal experience in real battles. Perhaps the enhanced traits of an adventurer¡¯s body played a part in it as well.

    He was completely engulfed by the light and once again found himself experiencing that weird sensation of floating on an empty void as he was transported to what will be his hunting ground for the next ten minutes.

    ***

    Ice came to in the middle of a dense forest. He immediately scanned the surroundings to search for any presences.

    ¡°___There. 12 o¡¯clock. Four small shadows within the trees. Closing in fast. Judging from their speed, size and movement patterns¡­ Forest Lynx huh?¡±

    Ice readied his Dirk and braced himself for the incoming monsters. It seemed these ones were already [1]aggroed from the start. It suited Ice just fine and he thought this saved him a good amount of trouble.

    ¡°___Heck, if you come running in after me like that then alright. Let¡¯s go fur-balls.¡±

    He was familiar with this type of monster since he¡¯s already encountered and hunted them before. But he still kept his guard up. There was no guarantee these ones would be exactly like those found near Maleena. This was a test after all.

    The lynx jumped out from within the foliage and went after Ice immediately. Ice fended off the first one by stepping aside to the left and kicking its exposed flank, sending it on a collision course with a large tree. A pair attacked from two directions simultaneously, jumping towards him with claws and fangs bared.

    Ice launched himself forward with a kick and slashed the one coming up from the front right in its abdomen, bisecting in an upward diagonal direction. He used the momentum to jump with a spin using his left foot as a pivot to launch him to a position above the one trying to take his back, catching it behind the neck and slamming it down on the ground belly-first when they fell. He then stabbed his weapon directly on the creature¡¯s forehead.

    Since his Atk stat was high enough, Ice was able to deliver fatal blows just like what Sea did with the Sable Wolf if he struck at critical points or did massive damage to the body of the monsters. The two lynx who got fatally wounded immediately turned to dust. The one he kicked had about 40% of its HP shaved off.

    The one who held back growled defiantly at Ice. It let out a piercing cry that echoed throughout the forest. Not long after, several figures started to appear all over Ices¡¯ surroundings and completely encircled him.

    Ice¡¯s mouth curved into a savage grin, fully engaged in the feeling of battle.

    ¡°___Oh? Attacking in waves in order to tire me out huh? Fine by me. Let¡¯s see who can hold out in the end.¡±

    He relaxed his body to prepare for the incoming attacks. The lynx started to move without any warning, swarming from every direction with every intention of tearing him to shreds. Ice reacted accordingly and countered with a flurry of slashes, punches and kicks. His Dirk flashed, tracing a multitude of arcs in the air. It hit its targets with perfect accuracy, as if following a set path, leaving a trail of dead monsters in its wake.

    Ice¡¯s ability to read the lynx¡¯ attacks was employed to its fullest. He brought all the data in his head about them to the forefront and dutifully used them as reference in order to avoid the monsters attacks and launch well timed, deadly counters.

    It wasn¡¯t all that easy though. The Lynx dealt considerable damage after all. His HP neared critical more times than he could count. At that point, he¡¯d devote all of his energy into stalling and chugged health potions as fast as he could. He was thankful for the fact that the potions were only the size of a 100 ml. [3]Lipovitan bottle so they were relatively easy to down.

    Still, drinking while being swarmed by monsters gave him major openings so his situational awareness and multi-tasking skills were put to the ultimate test. He didn¡¯t care at all if his desperate dodges looked unsightly or if somebody else saw him. All he cared about was passing the test.

    After a fierce struggle, every single one of the monsters was finally downed. All in all, a total of twenty two kills. Ice smiled in satisfaction.

    ¡°___Well¡­ That was a good start. Let¡¯s go with this momentum and hunt for more.¡±

    Ice decided to move in order to hunt more monsters to increase his kills. There was no merit in not going all out in this situation anyway. He began to run and moved further into the forest.

    ***

    Not long after Ice started running, he heard several voices just a few paces ahead of him ¨C two males and a girl. They seemed to be engaged in an argument judging from the tone of their exchange.

    ¡°___Must be some of the other participants. No use sticking around then.¡±

    Ice was about to turn around and head towards another direction but stopped in his tracks abruptly, realizing that the voices were actually quite familiar. Curiosity got the better of him and he moved in closer to observe.

    ¡°What were you thinking princess, coming all the way out here disguised like that?! Taking the Class Change Test of all things¡­ Please just stop this nonsense. It¡¯s terribly unbecoming.¡±

    He¡¯d recognize that arrogant tone anywhere ¨C it was that Nigel fellow together with his lackey. They were bearing down on another person he was familiar with ¨C Thalia.

    ¡°___Princess?¡­ I had a hunch she was from some sort of noble house but¡­ princess huh?¡±

    Ice decided not to make a move yet and kept observing them. He needed a better handle of the situation. They were obviously acquainted so there was a chance he would just be doing unnecessary meddling.

    Thalia raised her voice in indignation and retorted angrily. ¡°Who gave you the right to decide what I can and can¡¯t do Nigel? We may be related but that doesn¡¯t mean you can just meddle in my affairs as you please.¡±

    Nigel answered back with a slightly condescending tone. ¡°You wound me princess. ¡®Right¡¯? ¡®Right¡¯ you ask?! Of course I have the right my lady. I AM your fianc¨¦ after all. I am just worried that something unfortunate may befall you in this dangerous place. Can¡¯t I even feel concern for my future spouse?¡±

    Thalia¡¯s face turned several shades of red and blue from a mixture of embarrassment and disgust. ¡°W-Wha- ? Since when was this engagement ever decided?! I don¡¯t even remember any arrangement like that taking place. And father would never decide anything concerning me and my future without consulting me first!¡±

    Nigel¡¯s haughty looking smile widened. It seemed he was actually amused by Thalia¡¯s reaction. ¡°Princess, you know very well that would more than likely be the case in the end.¡±

    He cupped her chin and stared at her with uncharacteristic fervor.

    ¡°The only heir to the throne of Gran Sirius is actually a woman herself. No matter how you look at it, a political marriage is out of the question this time. Your father, the Prince Reagent, should know that best. The heirs of the other top noble houses are either too young or too spineless to even be considered.

    If that is the case, then you and I marrying each other would be the best course of action. With that, we would be preserving the proper bloodline and could, together, help your younger brother Prince Ricard in running the country until he is old and wise enough to hold the reigns of power on his own.¡±

    Nigel¡¯s tone was getting more feverish. Even Ice, who wasn¡¯t at the receiving end of the tirade, was feeling really uncomfortable. There was a crazed light in Nigel¡¯s eyes, although almost imperceptible. His words reeked of ambition.

    He let go of Thalia¡¯s chin and spread his arms wide.

    ¡°There is no better choice that I, Nigel Falwynd Garland, to be the rightful partner of an esteemed person such as you, my fair lady ¨C Princess Thelma Falwynd Ricksvale. Thus, our engagement is nothing less than a given. And I will strive to fulfill my obligations as your consort to the best of my abilities.¡±

    He finished his speech with a flourish and bowed. Lem followed up with a scripted one-man applause routine.

    Thalia, or rather, Princess Thelma was trembling. She was unable to retort and only stood still in confused silence.

    Various emotions were welling within her; surprise, fear and disgust foremost among them. She already knew of Nigel¡¯s arrogance and his family¡¯s desire for more authority. But she never expected him to be this blatant about it.

    Ice was also disconcerted.

    ¡°___Marriage to your own kin? Preserving the bloodline? That¡¯s a thing over here? Well, it¡¯s not like I have the right to judge considering I¡¯m not even from this world in the first place but seriously?¡±

    Princess Thelma finally broke from her earlier bewilderment and proceeded to deny Nigel¡¯s statements in a panicked tone.

    ¡°S-Stop deluding yourself Nigel. Who would even follow those kinds of old customs now? And besides, I would never agree to it in the first place. There¡¯s absolutely no way I¡¯ll even consider marrying you. Y-You stupid man!¡±

    Nigel¡¯s smiling face turned stiff, betraying his annoyance. He approached Thelma and forcefully dragged her towards him.

    ¡°What are you doing?! Unhand me! Let me go!¡±

    ¡°Now princess, don¡¯t be so difficult. Here, just let Lem watch over you for the time being until all of this is over.¡±

    Nigel shoved Thelma toward Lem with an indifferent expression and proceeded to walk off. Thelma¡¯s eyes were tearing up as she struggled to free herself from Lem¡¯s grasp.

    Ice finally decided to make his move after seeing Thelma like that.

    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°___Rescuing a damsel in distress¡­ and a princess to boot. What am I, a [2]shounen hero or something? Still though, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m apathetic enough to ignore something like a girls tears¡­.. Damn I¡¯m corny! Geez¡­¡±

    He approached Lem with a complicated look on his face and tapped him in the back to get his attention.

    Lem was surprised and turned around to find Ice sporting an immaculate smile. ¡°The heck?! Wait, you¡¯re that spineless twerp from earlier. The heck do you think you¡¯re doing?!¡±

    Ice continued to smile and replied in a nonchalant tone.

    ¡°Oh, nothing¡­ I was just passing by and witnessed a young lady being harassed by two perverts so I decided to step in for a bit.¡±

    Lem¡¯s expression immediately colored with rage. ¡°The heck you just say runt?! I¡¯ll kill you!¡± He shoved the princess aside and threw a punch aimed at Ices¡¯ face.

    Ice avoided it by stepping lightly to the side. ¡°___Too slow. Is this guy even trying?¡± he mused. Ice felt even a Pon-Pon could do better.

    Lem¡¯s breathing got rougher after a few missed swings. ¡°Y-You runt! S-Stay put while I sock you dammit!¡±

    Ice grinned mischievously and taunted him further.

    ¡°Are you stupid? Who would even get hit by those sloppy punches of yours.¡±

    Lem was pushed to the boiling point and threw all his weight into a straight punch. Ice decided to stop avoiding and let loose an accurately timed cross counter (not that it was particularly difficult to match the timing considering their difference in speed).

    Ices¡¯ counter landed squarely on Lem¡¯s face with a loud ¡®thud¡¯ immediately followed by an audible cracking sound. It seemed Ice broke his jaw. Lem fell down on the ground and clutched his face while he writhed in pain.

    Ice knelt down on the ground and whispered words filled with contempt into Lem¡¯s ear.

    ¡°Not as tough now are you big guy. Ever heard of the phrase ¡®picking on someone your own size¡¯? Well newsflash: It doesn¡¯t always apply.¡±

    Thelma was lying on the ground motionless. It seemed she was still confused. Ice gave her a reassuring smile and faced the only other person left who was with them.

    ¡°Greetings my lord. I was just wondering if I could also join in the fun.¡±

    Nigel¡¯s stare was fixed on Ices¡¯ face. There was cold indifference. But there was also quiet rage.

    ¡°What are you doing, interfering with the affairs of those higher in station? Do you even have a concept of shame?¡±

    ¡°Well my lord, my mother did indeed instill me with the values of tact and respect. I just wasn¡¯t taught that harassing a girl until she was brought to tears was actually something praise worthy. So forgive me for my lack of manners. But I¡¯m afraid that in my ignorance, I can¡¯t really help but interfere.¡±

    Sarcasm was laced in Ices¡¯ reply, earning a twitch in Nigel¡¯s brow. There was no further reaction however. Nigel just simply drew the rapier from his waist and pointed it strait at Ice. The air around him changed, exuding a palpable amount of hostility.

    ¡°No need for further discussion my lord? Fine by me. Let¡¯s do this.¡±

    Ice readied his Dirk and prepared for the clash.

    Nigel initiated the attack first. His rapier thrusts were both quick and accurate. They often came from unexpected trajectories and proactively aimed at openings in Ices¡¯ stance.

    Ice had a hard time deflecting or avoiding Nigel¡¯s thrusts and slashes. He had practically no data regarding his opponent this time so he was forced to analyze on the spot and react accordingly, resulting in a comparably slower reaction time against his opponents attacks.

    The barrage continued and Ice was slowly pushed on the defensive.

    ¡°___Damn! This guy¡¯s tough. Guess he can actually walk the talk. This isn¡¯t going very well¡­¡±

    After enduring a couple of exchanges, Ice was almost certain Nigel was using some kind of uniform sword style. His attacks had a peculiar rhythm and form. Problem was, Ice still couldn¡¯t completely read them. For one, he had little to no experience fighting human or humanoid opponents except for Sea. He sparred with her unarmed as well.

    This time the opponent was using a weapon ¨C a rapier. Ice was wholly unfamiliar with its attack forms and range so he couldn¡¯t properly gauge the distance in order to successfully avoid Nigel¡¯s attacks. He was barely managing with the Reaction bonus he gained from Unarmed Combat Mastery.

    Of course Ice wasn¡¯t able to do anything like completely understanding everything about the opponent and his or her style after just a few minutes of fighting. He was no master. He¡¯s just barely gotten the hang of battles.

    His earlier feats can be credited to ample time for planning and preparation as well as having enough material to study so he could get an accurate picture of his opponents ¨C both of which he wasn¡¯t able to do now. Nigel was just one step above him in technique and Ice fully acknowledged that. Still, he couldn¡¯t just back down now.

    Something about the fight bothered him though¡­

    ¡°___This guy¡¯s just too skilled. I¡¯m just being pushed around here. But still¡­ it¡¯s strange¡­¡±

    His brain was running on overdrive, trying to find out just what exactly felt wrong. After a few more exchanges, Ice understood.

    ¡°___This guy¡­ He¡¯s obviously several steps above me. He¡¯s managed to pry open my guard more than a couple of times now. He did attack those openings but¡­ he didn¡¯t fully commit. He¡¯s hesitating. I don¡¯t really know why but if that¡¯s the case¡­¡±

    Ice decided to go for broke. It was a desperate gamble but if this went on any longer it¡¯ll eventually result in his defeat.

    He was sure of it. So he was left with no choice.

    ¡°___Now or never. This is definitely gonna hurt though. Hoo boy¡­¡±

    Ice immediately proceeded with his plan. After narrowly avoiding a couple of attacks he deliberately opened up his flank.

    ¡°___Alright sir. Here¡¯s a perfect opportunity. Now go for it.¡±

    Luckily, Nigel did take the bait. He aimed his thrust at Ices¡¯ side and as he did so¡­

    ¡°___Spot on. Let¡¯s do this!¡±

    Ice suddenly moved toward Nigel¡¯s attack. As he expected, the speed of Nigel¡¯s thrust suddenly slowed down, giving Ice enough leeway to just barely avoid the tip of his rapier from piercing his side by quickly shifting his weight. Thus, the attack only managed to graze him. However, he still received quite a nasty cut. Taking advantage of Nigel¡¯s few moments of hesitation, Ice gave him a full on shoulder tackle.

    ¡°Gggh!¡±

    Nigel¡¯s back collided with a tree. And before he could recover, Ice rushed toward him and slammed the tip of his Dirk¡¯s hilt directly on Nigel¡¯s chin, successfully knocking him out.

    ***

    ¡°Damn! I can¡¯t believe that worked!¡± An ecstatic Ice exclaimed in half-surprise. Thelma rushed to his side with a worried looking expression.

    ¡°What was that?! What the heck were you thinking you idiot! One wrong step and you could have been skewered alive!¡±

    Thelma immediately proceeded to scold him. Ice scratched his cheek and looked at her with an incensed face.

    ¡°I don¡¯t really know myself princess. Excess adrenaline?¡±

    Thelma¡¯s gaze shifted upwards in a fed up expression and sighed.

    ¡°Ugh, men.¡±

    ¡°What? It worked didn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Aah! Fine. Let¡¯s just take care of that injury of yours.¡± She looked at Ices¡¯ wound uncomfortably.

    ¡°Ew. Nasty. Here, drink this. It should take care of that wound right away.¡±

    She handed Ice with an ornate bottle that contained a fizzy ruby colored liquid.

    ¡°Wait. Isn¡¯t this a high grade recovery potion? This is expensive right?¡±

    Thelma placed her hands on her hips and replied with a slight frown. ¡°You¡¯ve already heard who I really am right? You still think money¡¯s an issue?¡±

    ¡°___But it¡¯s such a waste¡­¡± Ice thought. This particular potion restored about 800 points of HP. He only had a maximum of 420 points of HP after reaching level 20. It was overkill no matter how one looked at it.

    Plus, this particular potion actually costs about 1 silver. Ice could only barely afford the ones which restored about 60 HP that went for 100 Bronze a bottle. If one looked at cost efficiency, this was clearly a waste of resources. Ice, who was so used to living in a tight budget could not bear this kind of luxurious over spending.

    He made a hesitant expression and offered an alternative. ¡°How bout I just cover this with spit and wrap it in some bandages. That should do the trick. Yep, let¡¯s do that.¡±

    Thelma¡¯s frown intensified. ¡°Are you crazy?! That¡¯ll just hasten the possibility of getting an infection. It¡¯s very unhygienic. Stop making such a fuss and drink this up already!¡± She thrust the bottle to Ices¡¯ face with an indignant expression.

    Overwhelmed, Ice was forced to just go with Thelma¡¯s offer and grabbed the potion with trembling hands.

    ¡°___This baby¡¯s worth one silver. One silver! It¡¯s like I¡¯m throwing away money. Damn¡­¡±

    He downed the potion in one quick gulp.

    ¡°Well? How are you feeling?¡± Thelma made an anxious expression and checked on Ices¡¯ condition.

    Ice dropped on his knees with a face that was drained of all color.

    ¡°Eh? Eeeeh?! What¡¯s wrong? Was that the wrong potion? Was the product expired?¡±

    ¡°¡­No¡­ There was nothing wrong with it. It was delicious. Tasted like strawberry soda actually. My penny pinching soul just received plenty of damage that¡¯s all¡­ Just give me a moment...¡±

    ¡°I already told you money¡¯s not an Issue.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a matter of principle¡­¡±

    Thelma waited for Ice to recover with a confused look.

    ***

    ¡°Alright. All good.¡± Ice had mostly blocked out all the negative feelings from earlier and had a refreshed face.

    Thelma had her arms crossed and still looked confused. ¡°Honestly. What¡¯s wrong with you? You¡¯re weird.¡±

    ¡°Ahaha. I get that a lot. Now then princess, what should we do with these guys?¡±

    ¡°Oh them? Don¡¯t worry. People will be automatically transported out if they happen to lose consciousness or their HPs fall below a certain threshold.¡± Thelma explained with a ¡®matter of fact¡¯ expression.

    ¡°Hey, wait. I didn¡¯t catch that bit from the explanation earlier.¡±

    ¡°They didn¡¯t include it intentionally. Something about ¡®recklessness not being akin to bravery¡¯ and ¡®properly assessing risk¡¯ or something.¡±

    Ice whistled, impressed. ¡°Heh. Quite crafty of them. But I guess I can see the point. There¡¯s no use for an adventurer who has exploring uncharted lands as one of his or her future responsibilities who can¡¯t actually return alive. If we get drafted as pioneers they expect us not to just explore and discover but to bring back crucial info in order to asses potential benefits and establish a firm foothold. Can¡¯t do that if you¡¯re dead.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it more or less.¡±

    Thelma nodded in agreement.

    As they talked, the bodies of Nigel and Lem were covered in light and vanished. ¡°See. I told you. But how did you come up with what you did earlier? I still think it was really reckless.¡±

    ¡°I agree actually.¡± Ice replied with a slight grin.

    ¡°That guy was really skilled. He practically forced me to do that.¡±

    ¡°How¡¯d you know it would work?¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t really sure. But I noticed that he had an aversion to fully landing critical blows. So I figured he¡¯d pretty much get shaken up if I actually moved in towards an attack rather than step back. I honestly couldn¡¯t win in technique so I had to resort to that to rattle him up a bit. I was also banking on the fact that since we were both Initiates, he wouldn¡¯t really have much resistance to status ailments. So I aimed for his chin. I was lucky he was afflicted with ¡®Concussion¡¯ with just one hit.¡±

    Thelma made a look that implied she wasn¡¯t convinced. ¡°But what if you were wrong? What if that was actually a bluff?¡±

    Ice made a bitter smile and explained further.

    ¡°It was his expression. It wasn¡¯t that noticeable but he actually cringed a bit every time he drew blood. I guessed he might have properly learned fencing but had little opportunity to engage in a real battle against another person. I¡¯m kinda the same so I figured we were sort of similar in that regard.¡±

    ¡°So he was all arrogant and stuff and it turns out he can¡¯t stomach blood. That¡¯s just pathetic.¡± Thelma spat out with a venomous tone.

    Ice shook his head while smiling bitterly.

    ¡°Nah, I wouldn¡¯t say that. Like I said, I¡¯m actually pretty similar. I also had plenty of opportunities to retaliate but I didn¡¯t. I guess, subconsciously, I was also uncomfortable with the idea of attacking another person with a weapon that was actually fatal. I was kinda okay with monsters but yeah¡­ Guess we were both just raised in a pretty peaceful environment.¡±

    Thelma raised an eyebrow at that statement. ¡°The Garland house? Peaceful? I just can¡¯t imagine that den of wolves to be anything even close to ¡®peaceful¡¯.¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant. It¡¯s kind of hard to explain¡­¡±

    Ice had a troubled expression as he searched for a way to explain things more clearly. Thelma just waved the matter off with a frown and looked towards the distance.

    ¡°Don¡¯t trouble yourself anymore. I probably still won¡¯t get it anyway. Besides, we¡¯re running out of time and monsters to hunt. They don¡¯t [4]respawn quickly here after all.¡±

    Ices¡¯ eyes widened in surprise.

    ¡°Say what?!¡±

    ¡°Something about the miasma here not being thick enough. It takes a fairly long time for this place to teem with monsters you see - probably a couple of months. That¡¯s why we can¡¯t hold these tests that often.¡±

    Ice made a frantic expression and hurriedly re-equipped his Dirk.

    ¡°There¡¯s no time to lose then. How many have you hunted princess?¡±

    ¡°About thirteen before those idiots interrupted me. Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m pretty good with my bow here.¡±

    Thelma proudly showed off her weapon ¨C a beautifully crafted short bow ¨C and grinned.

    ¡°A bow huh? Right then. I¡¯ll be the vanguard princess. You go ahead and follow a bit behind me and snipe those I fail to kill. You can finish them off if you want.¡±

    ¡°What? Wait, I can¡¯t be more indebted to you than I already am. I can hunt on my own.¡±

    ¡°Nah. This is still give and take. I would feel more at ease if someone were to guard my back and it would make it easier for me to commit to a full frontal assault. We need to be quick after all. There would be no time for waiting for an opportunity to strike.

    And besides, you¡¯re also going to vouch for me just in case I get into any trouble because of today¡¯s little incident. What do you say princess?¡±

    Thelma smiled mischievously after understanding what Ice was getting at. She lightly nudged him on the elbow and let out an amused laughed. ¡°Ahaha. Clever aren¡¯t you. Alright, I¡¯m in.¡±

    ¡°Great! Let¡¯s go then.¡±

    The pair sprinted towards the trees and began to hunt.

    ***

    After a few minutes of frantic speed hunting, Ice and Thelma managed to get a total of fifty four kills. Ice got thirty six , bringing his total kill count to fifty eight while Thelma got a total of thirty one after adding in her previous thirteen kills.

    Their bodies began to glow a short while after.

    Ice wiped off some sweat from his brow and looked at the similarly exhausted Thelma. ¡°Guess this is it huh. You think we¡¯ve done enough?¡±

    ¡°Who knows. Guess we¡¯ll see soon enough. Anyway, thanks Ice. And good luck.¡± Thelma smiled cheerfully and gave Ice a thumbs up.

    Ice gestured back with a wry grin. ¡°You too princess. Be sure to invite me to a palace feast or two sometime.¡±

    He was teleported while being sent off by Thelma¡¯s smile.

    ***

    ¡°Huh? What the¡­?¡±

    As soon as Ice opened his eyes, he found himself in a peculiar place.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Where am I¡±

    There was absolutely nothing around him ¨C just pure white ¡®space¡¯. He tried moving around and found that there was at least a ¡®surface¡¯ to walk on ¨C if one could even call it that.

    ¡°___This feels like walking on air. I¡¯m definitely standing on ¡®something¡¯¡­ But I can¡¯t see anything below my feet. Actually, I can¡¯t see anything around me at all¡­ What is this place?¡±

    Ice felt a mounting sense of apprehension each passing moment he spent within the white void. There was no sense of direction. No sense of time. Only stillness. Only silence. A really uncomfortable and strangely ¡®artificial¡¯ sense of tranquility. It was highly disconcerting. He felt that he would gradually lose himself the longer he lingered.

    ¡°Just what the heck is going on?!¡±

    His confused howl was mercilessly swallowed up by the void. There were not even echoes. The only thing that allowed him a flimsy grip of his state of mind was the feeling of cold sweat that dripped down his face.

    ¡°Why the panicked state young man? Is this place that uncomfortable for you?¡±

    Ice was startled by a voice suddenly coming from behind him. He frantically turned around to find the source. But what he saw only furthered his confusion.

    There was definitely ¡®someone¡¯ or ¡®something¡¯ there. But he could not properly make out the features. It was like looking at a blurred image on a static filled TV screen.

    ¡°Who-? What are you? What do you want with me? Just where the heck am I?!¡±

    ¡°Easy now young man. There is no need to be so afraid. I will not keep you for long. I only wish to talk. For my own curiosities sake.¡±

    It was definitely strange. Ice could not make out the face of the ¡®image¡¯. But he felt the impression that the ¡®figure¡¯ smiled in reassurance. He forced his panicked mind to calm down in order to come to an understanding of what was going on.

    ¡°Answer my questions first. Who are you and where is this place?¡±

    ¡°Here? It¡¯s a bit difficult to explain exactly ¡®where¡¯ ¡®here¡¯ is but¡­ Let¡¯s see¡­ Ah, that¡¯s right. This is both ¡®here¡¯ and ¡®nowhere¡¯. A by-product of the past attempts to successfully create and mass produce sandbox ADs. A ¡®leftover¡¯ if you will. And as for me, I have long since discarded my ¡®identity¡¯. Or rather, I was forced to discard it. So I am simply ¡®me¡¯. I do apologize if that answer proves rather¡­ unsatisfying.¡±

    The confusion in Ices¡¯ face didn¡¯t disappear from the vague answers the figure gave. He just continued to stand stock still, trying to figure out what to do next.

    ¡°I see you¡¯re at a loss. If so, then please humor me for a little while. I only need ask a few things. Then, I¡¯ll send you back.¡±

    The figures voice was strangely coercive. It was akin to a ruler issuing a command to his subject. Ice felt compelled to agree despite himself and nodded weakly.

    "Good. Now then young man, I only wish to know your views regarding a certain matter. Please do answer truthfully and without pretense.¡±

    Ice nodded again, completely under the figures influence.

    ¡°If you were to live in a world where you were bound to follow certain courses of action ¨C that is to say a ¡®script¡¯ if you will ¨C would you blindly follow? Or would you aim for something beyond ¡®fate¡¯? Something¡­ ¡®different¡¯?¡±

    Ice proceeded to ponder the question and answered in a steady voice.

    ¡±Most of my life I¡¯ve practically drifted in the current. I didn¡¯t have to concern myself with anything too complicated. What happens, happens. It was a pretty simple way of life. But it was¡­ unsatisfying. Frustrating. I¡¯d like to think I want to be the master of my own fate. Making that an excuse for failure¡­ I¡¯m fed up with that.¡±

    ¡°What if blindly following would lead you to a better life. What if those who write the script led you towards a ¡®happy ending¡¯?¡±

    Ice smiled bitterly and replied. ¡°Y¡¯know, one thing I¡¯ve learned from reading and watching a lot of stories is this ¨C writers are fickle creatures. They have pretty nasty mood swings too. Leaving your life to someone like that¡­ I can¡¯t imagine anyone that¡¯s actually sane doing that kind of thing.¡±

    ¡°Even if your actions lead to someone else¡¯s misfortune?¡±

    ¡°Would it make any difference? You can¡¯t write a story where everybody has his or her personal happy ending. That would be pretty bland. It wouldn¡¯t go over well with the audience. There always has to be one sacrificed in the end. That¡¯s why we have things like antagonists and tragic protagonists right? I¡¯m not so full of myself that I can be absolutely confident I won¡¯t be cast in that role.

    Misfortune would always be present ¨C even in a life that followed a fixed script. And if you take out misfortune ¨C if you take out the one thing that contrasts with happiness ¨C just what kind of life would that be? Would you even recognize happiness? Will it still carry as much meaning? Will it even matter at all?

    At the very least I, for one, can¡¯t imagine such a life. And if I do fail, I¡¯ll fail on my own terms instead of hiding behind a concept like fate or destiny.¡±

    Ice¡¯s expression darkened as he realized the irony in his words.

    ¡°___Perhaps there really was no easy answer¡­¡±

    Contradictions piled on top of contradictions. It was pretty confusing after all.

    Silence reigned between the two once more. After a seeming eternity, the figure broke in a fit of uncontrolled laughter.

    ¡°Hehehehehehe. Hahahahaha! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Interesting. Truly interesting! Now I understand why she was so taken by you. That¡¯s right young man. A stagnant utopia is not worth living in! It¡¯s out of the question! Nahahahaha! I look forward to the future you would bring about¡­

    Counterpoint.¡±

    Ice''s consciousness slowly faded. As he held on to its last vestiges, he felt as though he saw the figures eyes for the first time. Mad light danced within them. Then there was darkness¡­

    ***

    ¡°***! **e! ICE!!!¡±

    ¡°Uuuuuh¡­.¡±

    Ice found himself sprawled on the cold floor of the transport room with a really major headache. Thelma was frantically shaking him awake and that act made his head hurt more. He brushed her aside and slowly started to get up while clutching his head with a grimace.

    ¡°Ugh¡­ W-What happened?..¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯d like to know! We were transported out of the hunting grounds at the same time and I went ahead to finish the test. But when I came back I didn¡¯t find you with those who¡¯ve successfully completed the test beforehand so I figured you still weren¡¯t done with it. I waited and waited and you still wouldn¡¯t come back! I asked the staff and they told me they couldn¡¯t find any trace of you coming to the final test location.

    And then you just come dropping down unconscious in here all of a sudden! No matter how tried to wake you up at first, you just wouldn¡¯t come to. I even felt your pulse stop for a moment! You really made me worry so much dummy! Idiot!¡±

    Thelma shouted at him angrily while sobbing at the same time. There was even some snot coming out of her nose. It was pretty unbecoming of a princess. Ice felt somewhat guilty for being the one responsible for reducing a pretty girl like her into such as state. He was also a little touched that she was genuinely worried about him despite the fact that they were just recently acquainted. He motioned to wipe away some of the tears from her face and bowed in apology.

    ¡°I don¡¯t really get what¡¯s going on but¡­ I¡¯m really sorry. And thanks for worrying about me that much princess.¡±

    ¡°Y-You better be! Really! I was so worried I thought my own heart would stop¡­ B-But what exactly happened to you? By the looks of it, you were never able to take the final test. D-Did you really fail? Was it because of what happened in the forest? If so I¡­¡±

    Thelma looked really troubled by her conjecture. Her face was ashen with worry from the possibility of her being the cause for Ice missing the final test and failing. Ice patted her shoulder and reassured her.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s it. I somehow feel there was a different reason but¡­ I can¡¯t quite place why¡­¡±

    Ice felt that he was forgetting something really important. But the more he pondered on it, the more his headache intensified. He decided to just stop for the time being. He was feeling really exhausted after all for some reason. Ice tried to stand up with slightly wobbly legs. Thelma hurriedly supported him by letting him lean on her shoulder.

    ¡°A-Are you okay? Is it really alright for you to move around like this?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll be fine after getting some rest I think.¡±

    They went out of the room and headed to the building lobby.

    ***

    A distraught looking Misha went over to them once they got to the lobby.

    ¡°Mr. Ice! Thank goodness you¡¯re alright. We lost all traces of you after the second phase concluded. What happened?¡±

    Ice made a strained smile as Thelma let him down on the sofa.

    ¡°Thing is¡­ I¡¯m not too sure myself. I don¡¯t really remember what happened after I got transported from the forest grounds.¡±

    ¡°You¡­ don¡¯t remember?¡­¡± Misha¡¯s brow creased as she fell into deep thought.

    ¡°___Could it be? But I never heard this from Sea¡­ No, if it¡¯s her then it¡¯s actually likely she forgot to tell me such a crucial detail like that¡­ Really, that girl¡­ But if it were true¡­¡±

    She looked at Ice with a complicated expression on her face and made a request.

    ¡°Sir Ice¡­ If you wouldn¡¯t mind, could you show me your status window. I need to confirm something.¡±

    ¡°Well, sure. I don¡¯t mind.¡±

    Ice opened the menu and changed the display setting to ¡®Public¡¯. Misha sat beside him and moved closer in order to look at it. There was practically no distance between and Ice felt something incredibly soft pressed on his arm. He tried not to show it, but of course he was enjoying it. He¡¯s a healthy, inexperienced, late blooming male after all. His nostrils flared up involuntarily.

    ¡°___This world may appear to my eyes in 2D¡­ but this sensation is undoubtedly 3D! No, it might even reach 4D! Hmmm, interesting¡­¡±

    Thelma pouted and made an increasingly irritated expression but held back her desire to scold Ice. Of course she was planning on giving him a good earful later ¨C only to correct his ungentlemanly behavior with women of course. After all, what else would be the reason for her sour mood.

    Misha¡¯s gaze wandered to the top left corner of Ices¡¯ status window. Her eyes instantly went wide in surprise. She hurriedly stood up, looking really nervous for some reason.

    ¡°Mr. Ice¡­ Could you kindly wait here for a moment. I need to report something to my superiors. I will get back to you shortly after. We might be needing you to meet up with the director later so please refrain from leaving the building until I come back.¡±

    ¡°Uh, sure. Do whatever you need to do.¡±

    Ices¡¯ head still hurt and his mental faculties were still a bit sluggish so he wasn¡¯t really registering everything that was currently happening. He just nodded in agreement since he also wanted a bit more time to rest and settle his headache. The high grade sofa felt really comfortable after all.

    Thelma, however, was taken aback by Misha¡¯s behavior.

    ¡°___Meeting with uncle Roald? But he doesn¡¯t usually allow for guests even among the current active top ranking adventurers. Something about them just being ¡®all flair and no substance¡¯¡­ But why would he want to meet Ice? This is really suspicious¡­¡±

    She decided to check Ices¡¯ status screen as well and leaned in close ¨C just as close as Misha was earlier actually. Ice was surprised by her sudden action.

    ¡°___Oooooh! She looks really slender at first glance but she¡¯s surprisingly full figured after all. Is it the clothes? Or the angle of lighting? We have another profound mystery Mister Sherlock! Might as well call [5]Conan-kun too¡­ Truly mind boggling¡­¡±

    As Ice had one of his pointless (and slightly perverted) inner monologues, Thelma¡¯s gaze was busy scanning his status screen and got quite a shock from what she saw. Now she understood why the CQMA Ricksvale branch''s managing director would want to meet with him.

    ¡°Hey Ice¡­ stop your perverted daydreaming and come look at your status screen.¡±

    ¡°E-eh?! What are you talking about? I-I wasn¡¯t thinking anything perverted!¡±

    ¡°Sure you weren¡¯t. Anyway, just look will you!¡±

    Thelma cupped Ices¡¯ head from behind and moved it towards the top left of the status screen ¨C to where his Class was indicated.

    He was formerly an Initiate, but it seemed he was actually able to successfully promote. Ice blinked his eyes a few times as his gaze was fixed on his newly gained Basic Class.

    ***

    Name: Ice

    Level: 20

    Class: ¡ïSummoner

    -Unique Class End-

    *Notes

    [1] Aggro ¨C In MMORPG¡¯s, it means that an NPC will attack preemptively, instead of only returning an attack.

    [2] Shounen ¨C it literally means ¡®few years¡¯ and generally refers to a typical boy, from elementary school through high school age. In the story, Ice is actually referring to the protagonist of a Shounen manga (comic) or anime. Shounen, in this case, refers to a demographic that targets the previously mentioned age range. Shounen heroes are typically a bit (or maybe more than actually) simple minded, bold, have strong senses of justice and, in a lot of cases, dense. Goku, Naruto and Luffy are some of the more known examples of this type of protagonist.

    [3] Lipovitan ¨C (¥ê¥Ý¥Ó¥¿¥ó ripobitan?), marketed in English-speaking countries under the name Libogen and Livita, is an energy drink manufactured by Taisho Pharmaceutical Co. and its licensee Osotspa. Widely available in East Asia, it retails in brown-colored translucent 100 ml bottles, and its contents has a distinctive bright yellow color. Lipovitan is marketed to alleviate physical and mental fatigue

    [4] Respawn ¨C recreation of an entity after its death/destruction.

    [5] Conan ¨C Ice is not referring to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle but Edogawa Conan ¨C the protagonist of the detective manga series Meitantei (Detective) Conan (or Case Closed in the serialized English edition) written by Aoyama Gosho of Yaiba fame.

 Chapter 9: Of Romance and Royalty

    It didn''t take long for Misha to come back. She immediately ushered Ice towards the stairs going to the second floor as soon as she arrived. Mild tension was apparent in her countenance.

    Princess Thelma followed them like it was only natural. Misha only spared her a sidelong glance and shrugged her shoulders in resignation, motioning for her to hurry along, prompting a grin from her as she nodded lightly in satisfaction. She trotted towards Ices'' side with light steps.

    They arrived in front of large wooden double doors with ornate carvings on its surface; most prominent of which was that of the official symbol of the CQMA - a decorative shield that depicted a a large, brightly shining star with six points looming down on the world.

    It was the symbol of the ''Guardians of the Light of Transcendent Knowledge'' - the CQMA''s old name when it started out as a knightly order that was founded for the purpose of safeguarding and managing ''The System'' - the greatest legacy of the legendary beings that the people of El Fabula regarded as gods.

    It was as imposing as it was grand. Ice gulped in spite of himself. But that was not because of the huge gold decorated doors in front of them but the pressure he felt from the other side of it.

    "___This pressure is no joke. I''m guessing this is the office of Misha''s boss. But what the heck is up with this heavy atmosphere? It''s not exactly oppressive but it''s not very welcoming either..."

    Ices'' thoughts were interrupted as Misha proceeded to open the door and ushered them inside. A tall figure stood behind a large yet casually simple table. Traces of gray peppered his unruly hair and beard. He wore a robe of black and crimson that, while fairly bulky, still failed to conceal his solidly built frame.

    Sharp, piercing eyes were framed by a pair of gold rimmed glasses. He looked more like a warrior than an academic even with his current garb but, strangely enough, Ice felt no sense of dissonance from all these clashing features. Here was a true veteran who still hasn''t lost his edge, Ice thought. A wise beast that hid his fangs and claws beneath a visage of calm indifference.

    A deep and penetrating voice broke the silence that enveloped the room. "Greetings Sir Ice. My name is Roald Danhurst and I am the director of the Ricksvale branch of the CQMA. Pleased to make you acquaintance my good lad."

    The greeting was cordial enough. Still, the oppressive air did not disappear completely. Even so, Ice thought it wasn''t good to be so obviously intimidated and regulated his breathing to compose himself and greeted back.

    "Likewise sir. I apologize for my present unruly state. It seems I''m still feeling a bit unwell from what happened during the test."

    Roald lightly grinned and motioned for them to sit. Ice gladly complied as he truly was feeling a bit under from the pressure and the headache that assailed him, although the pain has mostly subsided.

    "I see you have the princess with you lad. I heard of what you did during the second phase. Quite the dashing gentleman to come to your rescue isn''t he princess? You already seem quite taken with him."

    Roald''s tone was teasing and Thelma lightly blushed from the remark as she pouted and offered an objection with her eyebrow slightly raised.

    "Now just what do you mean by that uncle Roald? Ice really did help me out during the test and it''s only fitting to be concerned about the affairs of someone I owe a lot to. Otherwise, it would be a question of my honor as royalty and as a person. Besides, this matter will likely concern the state as well so I can''t very well turn a blind eye to it can I?"

    "Is that so. Very well. Let''s discuss the main matter at hand then." Roald hastily veered the topic off, knowing full well how much of a handful the princess was when one attracts her ire.

    "___So very like her mother. Even the angle of the eyebrow is the same..." he sighed inwardly, slightly regretting the fact that he tried to tease her, given just how gullible and transparent she was normally.

    It seemed that just like her mother, the late Duchess Helena Leon, the princess also has a propensity to change in demeanor when it comes to more personal matters such as a man she apparently likes. Though to what extent, Roald was not keen on probing further. His secretary, Misha, was also giving him ''the eye'' so he had no choice but to back down with hands raised in surrender.

    Ice was uncharacteristically oblivious to the atmosphere which may be attributed to the fact that he was currently not in the best of shapes and continued to sit silently while sporting a blank stare.

    "Eherm!" Roald coughed intentionally to dispel the remaining awkward atmosphere and focused his gaze on Ice. "So, Sir Ice... I assume you already have an idea about why I requested to meet with you. Or do you still need me to clarify?"

    Ice snapped to attention and thought for a moment. "Is it because of my Class?" he cautiously replied with a light voice.

    "Yes, that''s correct." Roald nodded in affirmation. "I assume you also know at least the basics about what that Class entails? You were recommended by Captain Seabelle after all."

    Ice nodded slowly. "Yes. Well, she did explain the basics to me about what Exclusive Classes are. But I assume there''s more to it than that right?"

    He probed Roald''s reaction with his gaze.

    Roald stood up and paced over to the window. He opened it lightly, allowing the cool afternoon breeze to sift through the room, his gaze going towards the cityscape.

    "In all of El Fabulan history, there was no other existence except for the ''Bestowers'' more celebrated, feared and wrapped in mystique than the ones who held the privilege to be awarded an Exclusive Class. In most cases, they were special individuals, often finding themselves in pivotal roles that shaped the fates of entire peoples... Nations! And oftentimes, history itself.

    Of course, there were a few who did not make even a tiny ripple in the tides. Some were because of their own folly. Some because of the folly of others..."

    Roald made a bitter face after the last statement and paused for a while. It seemed that there was some deeper meaning behind it, but Ice deemed it prudent not to probe further as it might be highly personal. He waited for Roald to continue.

    Roald faced them once more and, with a deeply meaningful look, he directed his gaze at Ice.

    "The question now, Sir Ice, is which of them are you? What are your goals? What is it that you seek? Fame? Glory? Power? If you polish your gift, all of that could be easily attainable. I wish to ascertain which path you wish to tread with my own eyes. Of course, part of it is to sate my own personal curiosity. Since an Exclusive Class is so very rare to come by..."

    Ice returned his gaze while trying not to flinch from the pressure that was reignited and fully directed at him once more as he replied.

    "I am still unsure which direction my life will take from now on. Truthfully speaking, I lacked any kind of goal for quite a long time before some recent events altered my views on life and set me on the path of being an adventurer. As such, I think I still cannot satisfactorily answer your queries.

    But still, actions speak louder than words as they say. You and the organization you belong to are free to judge me based on my actions from now on. If, by chance, you deem I am a dangerous existence, feel free to deal with me as you see fit.

    But I will not just back down and await judgement, as insignificant as I may be right now. I have already resolved myself to claw my way out of the rut I am in now and I will not stop doing so for any one else''s convenience. Please understand my lord. This time, I want to live fully for my sake..."

    Silence wrapped the room once more. The gazes of the two never wavered and conveyed each of their resolutions. Roald was the one who broke the silence first, bellowing a hearty laugh.

    "Ahahahahahahaha! Aaah, it''s been quite a long time since I''ve met anyone who had this much will ever since your father princess. Truly, quite interesting. You can relax now Sir Ice. As you may have noticed already, that was just a little jest. No need to be so serious. Ahahaha!"

    Ice smiled wholeheartedly. He felt comfortable with this man. There was hardly any false pretense when it came to him. Strength of both body and character. Truly, a person he could honestly admire. Still, Roald was part of an organization. And thus, he could not fully ignore the will of said organization carelessly.

    "I think I hit pretty close to the truth earlier though. I don''t doubt your good will my lord but you''re still a local CQMA branch director."

    "Hehe. Yes, well... Although I do have some responsibilities to adhere to, I also think it''s still too early at this stage to be scrutinizing you my lad. I''ll do something about those who may get a bit too paranoid about you. You have my word. And besides, you''re favored by the princess. If I attempt to do something towards you, I fear my head would be rolling in the pavement of the castle square shortly after hehehe."

    Roald gave a teasing wink towards Thelma despite knowing of her temper regarding these matters. Thelma, who was bit overwhelmed by the earlier atmosphere between the two, failed to give any proper response and just shrugged in exasperation.

    "This country will not force upon you anything unreasonable Sir Ice. Some do forcefully enlist ones like you in the service of the state and of the royal family but here, you''ll at least have freedom to do as you see fit just as long as you do not do anything detrimental for the country and its people. I think the royal family agrees with that course of action. Is my assumption correct princess?"

    "Y-Yes of course. I give you my word Ice. I''ll relay this to the court and my father as well. You have no cause for concern."

    Thelma gave Ice a look of assurance and Ice smiled sincerely in return, thankful for the vote of confidence.

    "Thank you. Truly. Ever since I found myself here, I''ve been blessed with meeting truly wonderful people. I will do my utmost to answer your trust."

    Roald nodded approvingly and Thelma was caught off guard by Ices'' sincere smile, causing her cheeks to redden.

    "I also read in Captain Seyramour''s recommendation letter that you have an unfortunate condition. Amnesia was it? This may be why we lack any information about you. But judging from the captain''s... ''impassioned'' wording in the letter and our conversation just now, I think it''ll be alright to place my trust in you lad. Hahaha.

    Though, to tell you the truth, I was actually a bit skeptical at first. The Captain Seyramour has been hit-or-miss with her recommendations lately after all. Truly, it''s nothing short of a miracle why she''s still able to hold on to that A+ licence of hers.

    Truly bright girl that one. Only a bit too trusting I say. But she does have one heck of a temper. It''s why we just approved your participation without really thinking twice about it. It''s not wise to stare a looming storm in the face y''know."

    "Ehem!" Misha coughed lightly and gave Director Roald an admonishing stare, prompting him to stay on topic. Ice smiled awkwardly at his surprisingly apt description of Sea.

    Thelma''s face shifted from a look of concern after hearing about Ices'' apparent amnesia to a bewildered one after hearing of Ices'' connection to the captain of her personal guard - a girl who even she acknowledged as an undeniable beauty. She felt her stomach tighten and her brow twitched slightly. She wasn''t really aware of the reason why however.

    "Anyway lad, feel fee to use the town facilities for adventurers as you see fit. You''re one of us now after all. I look forward to news of your daring exploits." Roald patted Ices'' back and laughed heartily.

    "Thank you sir. But, if I may impose on your goodwill a bit further my lord, would it be alright for me to use the CQMA library for some research? I want to try and find out more about my Class if possible. The documents may have some clues to my identity as well."

    "Of course lad. Anything you need. And enough with ''my lord'' and stuff. That''s too stiff. Just call me Roald lad. All my friends and loved ones call me that."

    "Er... Sir Roald then."

    Ice was reluctant to call the director with only his first name as Misha was staring daggers behind their backs as if to say ''Do not play along with his antics any more than you have to.'' so he reached for a compromise. It seemed Roald wasn''t opposed to it and so it was settled with that.

    After some tea and snacks, the meeting with the director finally came to a close.

    ***

    "Ice!"

    Ice was suddenly tackled as soon as he came out of the CQMA building.

    "You did it! You really did it! You passed. Congratulations! Ehehe."

    The culprit then proceeded to bury her face on his chest while giggling happily, which resulted in Ice''s face turning beet red from embarrassment.

    "W-Well this is quite a surprise... I didn''t expect this at all from you, considering how you are normally around us Sea..."

    A stiff sounding voice came from behind them. Princess Thelma was looking at them with slightly narrowed eyes. Her brows twitched a bit.

    "P-Princess!"

    Sea hurriedly separated herself from the still dumbfounded Ice. Her cheeks were flushed red and she was flailing her arms wildly as she tried to come up with an excuse.

    "I was j-just so happy Ice passed and got promoted so I just... w-well..."

    "Er... yeah. You just wanted to congratulate him right? Nothing wrong with that really. Yup. No problem. Ahahaha..."

    "Yes! Of course. Ehehe... Uh..."

    "....."

    The atmosphere quickly turned awkward. Sea and Thelma were evidently avoiding each others gazes.

    Ice was also at a loss. He was at least able to take a hint, but he didn''t have an inkling about what to do regarding this situation.

    For a guy whose age equals the number of years he hasn''t had a proper girlfriend, this was an exceedingly tall order, no matter how many romance series he''s seen. Reality was different after all, as surreal and bizarre his current reality was presently.

    "Well now. What do we have here? I have to say lad, it''s only been a short while after you got properly recognized as an adventurer and you''re already making waves. Roping in our most popular royal guard captain as well as our cute princess here... I''m in awe. Ahahaha!"

    Director Ronald''s laughter echoed in the city streets as he teased them unabashedly.

    "Eh? Waaah! No director! This isn''t what it looks like! Um..."

    "W-What are you saying uncle?! It''s not like there''s anything special going on!"

    Sea and Thelma managed flustered replies as Roald continued to laugh and gave them all a knowing look. Seeing the spectacle, Misha decided to interject in order to veer away from the current topic, perhaps as an act of sympathy towards the two girls.

    "Ehem. Anyway, Sir Ice, I''d like to know what you plan on doing for the rest of the day. You mentioned going to the CQMA library. Shall you proceed with that now or would you like to do it later? It''s getting pretty late in the afternoon after all."

    Roald raised an eyebrow at Misha''s sudden query that seemed to say ''Why''d you have to ruin my fun all of a sudden?'' but she paid it no attention as she continued to stare at Ice with an inquiring look. Sea and Thelma sighed inwardly in relief, thankful for the much welcome intervention.

    "Nah, I''m going to call it a day. I doubt I''ll be able to process any information I learn properly while I''m in this condition."

    "In that case, you''ll need to decide on your lodgings for tonight. You could stay at any CQMA accredited inn within the city. There''s a discount applied for all adventurers that have achieved a Basic Class as long as you show them this badge."

    Misha handed Ice a bronze badge that looked like a miniature replica of the CQMA symbol. This identifies one as a Bronze rank adventurer and affords them several privileges like the aforementioned inn discount, the right to take on similarly ranked bounty missions and quests among other things, or so Misha explained.

    The more achievements one racks up, the better the chances for promotion to a higher rank. One needs to be at least Gold ranked in order to be considered a candidate for becoming a pioneer and earn the right to join expeditions to the uncharted frontier lands - one of Ice''s long term goals.

    As for now though, Ice just wanted to lie down and rest. He was just about to ask about a good inn when Thelma suddenly interjected.

    "That won''t do. I haven''t properly thanked Ice for what he did for me during the test so how about you rest up in the castle. Dinner''s on me too."

    Director Roald raised an eyebrow at the suggestion and revealed a mischievous grin.

    "Oooh! Staying at the castle for the night. And serving dinner to boot. The princess is really going all out! There might be something like a night visit too Ice. You''d best prepare yourself."

    He slapped Ice in the back and laughed heartily. Sea got teary eyed and looked at Thelma in shock.

    "Eeeh! Is that so princess?... Are you really p-planning a n-night visit? B-But that''s just... Waaah!"

    "What?! No! Of course not! Uncle..."

    Thelma and Misha eyed Roald menacingly, prompting him to stop fooling around. A wide grin was still plastered on his face however, which may be attributed to him being truly amused at the fact that his tomboy god daughter of a princess has finally gotten interested in a person of the opposite sex.

    He was sure it would be amusing to see the look on his good friend''s face once he finds out his daughter was already well in the middle of bittersweet adolescence.

    "A-Anyway, what do say Ice? I''ll introduce you to father as well. I''m sure he''ll be interested in meeting a rare Exclusive Class adventurer."

    Thelma was looking at Ice expectantly. Now, this is Ice we''re talking about here.There was no way he would be able to decline her. He nodded weakly, influenced mostly by Thelma''s pleading gaze.

    "I-In that case, I''ll come along too. I need to check up on my squad members at the castle too anyway."

    Sea offered to come with them, apparently wanting to check up on her squad at the royal guard barracks in the castle. She was also radiating a sort of competitive aura.

    "Eh? Uh, yes. Of course. You come along too Sea. You''re the one who recommended him after all. You come too uncle. We need to formalize the Association''s stance regarding Ice with my father."

    "I''ll have to request my secretary to come along too if possible."

    "Eh? B-But that''s..."

    Misha was flustered by the notion of an official audience with the prince reagent. One normally didn''t have this kind of opportunity come up just like that after all.

    "Come on Ms. Klein. For me. You know just how bad I am with all that administrative stuff."

    "Sometimes, I really wonder if you''re just doing this to skip on work director."

    "Aww. Don''t say that. The royal chefs are really good you know. They do wonders with sea food dishes."

    Roald looked at Misha with his best attempt at puppy dog eyes, prompting her to sigh in resignation.

    "Ugh. Fine. But I better get a raise soon."

    "Done."

    Thus, the group headed for the castle with the princess leading the way.

    ***

    Dinner was absolutely sumptuous, or so Ice thought. Director Roald wasn''t kidding when he said the palace chefs were great at seafood dishes, which was peculiar since Ricksvale was nowhere near the sea, being situated between the Calder and Rigbaum mountain ranges along with neighboring Gran Sirius.

    Apparently, the head chef came from Selsey, a bustling seaside town in the principality of Mistrobe, a ways south east of Rickvale, where he learned most of his recipes and leveled up his Skills. Why he ended up this far north was a story only known by him and the prince reagent.

    Ice didn''t care much about it though. As long as the fish was good, he was happy.

    Director Roald ate with gusto, heaping large portions of each dish onto his plate. Sea and Misha had impeccable table manners. So did Thelma, although it was kind of expected in her case, being this country''s princess and all.

    Her father, the prince reagent, didn''t join them for dinner, apparently engaged in some royal business or other. At least, that was what Ice got from the bits of conversation between Thelma and the castle steward.

    He was worried that it had something to do with what happened during the Class change test. Nigel was the son of a royal family member after all. It''s quite likely they wouldn''t simply let the incident pass, even if Nigel was the one who acted like a creep. Family pride and all that.

    Thelma flashed him a reassuring smile, seemingly aware of his thoughts. Ice smiled back in return, eliciting a prickly gaze from Sea. Seems he wasn''t exactly out of the woods yet.

    Director Roald looked bemusedly at the three of them. Misha also slipped out a light smile. She wasn''t so uptight after all. But if even she would go on to tease them, Ice would literally have no way out, worrying him greatly.

    ***

    Dinner went by without any incident. The prince reagent still showed no signs of returning anytime soon, but princess Thelma was hardly worried.

    "Father will be fine." she affirmed.

    "Even if it were related with what happened with Nigel, I''m sure father will find a way to smoothen things out."

    She held great confidence in her father. He had always come through for her and her little brother. Ever since their mother died, he had had always been the sibling''s mental and emotional pillar of support.

    He had never doted on them excessively and disciplined them accordingly. But he was also kind and gentle; filled with warmth and love for his children.

    Needless to say, he was a great parent. And thus, Thelma cherishes and trusts him unconditionally.

    She looked around the long table to find that everyone had already finished their meals. She clapped lightly to get their attention.

    "Right then! Seeing as we''ve all pretty much finished dinner, how about we take a quick tour of the castle. Father hasn''t returned yet anyway. A quick stroll would be perfect to pass the time."

    Thelma''s eyes were shining in anticipation. It was pretty obvious that the one who was the most eager for taking a stroll around the castle was her. Ice guessed that she really didn''t get a lot of opportunities to show guests around her home, which was understandable given her being Ricksvale''s princess.

    Director Roald readily agreed and, of course, he''d be roping Misha along with him. Sea agreed as well, wanting to check up on her subordinates along the way. Ice was also up for it. So the group went ahead with an impromptu castle tour with the princess as their personal guide.

    ***

    Ice marveled at the architecture of Ricksvale castle. It would have been next to impossible for him to visit a place that actually had castles back on Earth unless he won big in the lottery or something. So he thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity, even if the place did look like backgrounds for an anime flick.

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    The castle gardens left a particularly deep impression. For some reason, he felt really calm and relaxed as the group spent a few moments there. It had been a truly long time since he''d felt that way ever since he joined the proverbial rat race after graduating.

    Princess Thelma was also visibly enjoying herself. She was beaming all the while and there were actually quite a few times when she would brush against Ice and almost involuntarily grab his arm in excitement.

    She managed to keep herself in check of course. Maybe it was partly because of Sea''s sorrowful look whenever it happened. Thelma and Ice both felt a nagging sense of guilt whenever they got a glimpse of Sea''s distraught face. Director Roald smiled bitterly while watching the events.

    "___How painfully bittersweet..." he thought as he sighed heavily, remembering how, once in the past, he had also competed with his good friend Lord Alder for the love of a woman - the woman who would later on become princess Thelma''s mother and wife to Ricksvale''s sovereign ruler.

    Perhaps in order to get his mind off from the bittersweet memories that now flooded him with subtle melancholy, director Roald turned to Misha, intending to tease her a bit.

    "Why don''t you join them too? From what I can tell, you rather seem to hold Ice in a much higher regard than most male adventurers we''ve come across. You''re even willing to show him your smile."

    Misha immediately shot the director a venomous look that seemed to freeze all the blood in his veins. Remembering that teasing this uptight secretary of his was akin to courting death, the director could only concede defeat and began to walk a little further away from the fuming Misha.

    "___Oh boy. I guess I really was out of it huh. That was indeed dangerous."

    The director could only bow slightly and give Misha an apologetic look while sporting a stiff smile. Misha turned away and no longer paid attention to him, allowing him to sigh in relief.

    But suddenly, something caught director Roald''s attention that blew away all his current thoughts. He immediately ran past the group and headed further towards the corridor, eliciting a puzzled look from the rest of them.

    ***

    It didn''t take long for them to discover the director''s source of excitement.

    "Cupcake! Toh!"

    Director Roald suddenly leaped high up into the air, doing a triple somersault and dived straight down towards a young woman whose face was contorted into an expression of pure terror.

    "D-Dad?!"

    The young woman immediately reacted, bending backwards in a move that resembled Keanu Reeve''s bullet dodging maneuver in the Matrix films, thus making the director rocket past her. He demonstrated great flexibility himself, correcting his posture in mid-air and landed smoothly on the carpeted floor like a gold medal winning gymnast.

    The rest of the group went wide eyed at the sudden turn of events. Almost all of them had dumbfounded expressions. There was one exception though - Misha was engaged in a very rare moment of her face palming unreservedly.

    The young woman did a double take and smacked the beaming director Roald right in the face with an expression that was a mix of both anger and embarrassment.

    "C-Cupcake?! Why''d you go and do that? Aren''t you happy to see your dear old dad. You rarely come home so we barely even see each other."

    "Why do you think I''ve been avoiding coming home you idiot! What were you thinking leaping over like that? Seriously. You''re always like this you stupid dad!"

    "Um... Rose... I''m sorry to interrupt the family reunion but..."

    Thelma called Rosseane''s attention, not really sure about how to react to the father - daughter tandem''s antics.

    "P-Princess! But what are you doing here? I''d heard you were back so I was just about to come over but... Eh?! C-Captain! You too? But you were on vacation right? Eh?!!"

    The young woman, Roseanne Danhurst, was getting increasingly confused by the moment.

    ***

    "I''m really sorry about the unsightly display earlier."

    Rosseane was currently bowing her head in apology towards the group, though Ice didn''t exactly see the reason why she should be apologizing. The director was the one at fault after all.

    They had moved to the receiving area of the guard barracks in the northeast tower of Ricksvale castle. This also served as the Sybilwynd knight division''s general quarters.

    They were also known as princess Thelma''s personal guard and were the one''s directly under Sea''s command. Rosseane was actually her adjutant.

    "It''s alright Rose. We don''t actually mind. Really. It''s nice to see you getting along quite well with your father."

    Everyone, especially Rosseane, wanted to retort. But after seeing Sea''s immaculate expression, they all held back. Rosseane just smiled bitterly and took the opportunity to smack the back of her father''s head. Director Roald actually seemed strangely happy despite the rough treatment.

    Sea then proceeded to introduce Rosseane to Ice who was the only one not acquainted with her.

    "Ice, this is Rosseane Danhurst. She''s my second in command and also director Roald''s only daughter."

    "It''s nice to meet you Miss Danhurst."

    "Oh. Uh, likewise, I guess. Um, captain... Is this guy the one you were talking about over the comm crystal?"

    "Yup. He''s the one. He''s got real potential you know. He also passed the test together with her majesty."

    "Hmm."

    Rosseane leaned in closer towards Ice with a scrutinizing look. Ice had a hard time turning away, now being fully aware of Rosseane''s charm.

    She had flaming red hair that gracefully fell down to her waist and sharp yet refined features. Her emerald green eyes exuded an air of vitality. She was, in all aspects, a truly lovely young lady.

    "Not a bad face. Build is good too. And he has this air of maturity yet still gives off this peculiar sense of innocence. Naivete maybe? Hmmm..."

    Rosseane cupped her chin in a gesture of deep thought and, after a short while, smiled mischievously towards Ice.

    "Alright. You pass. You definitely qualify as boyfriend material in my book."

    "E-Eeeeh?!"

    Sea and Thelma reacted almost at the same time. Their faces were aghast and filled with worry.

    "Ohoh..."

    Rosseane grinned menacingly at their reactions. It was then that Sea and Thelma realized they fell for a trap.

    "I see. So that''s how it is huh. Interesting. To think they''d actually... for the same guy... Hehee."

    "What the heck are you grinning like that for Rose?!"

    "Oh nothing your highness. Just a word of advice for you and the captain though. Mr. Ice seems like someone with low tolerance for straightforward attacks. In other words, he''s the type who''s weak to pressure. So I suggest saturation tactics. Be assertive and don''t let up. That way, he''ll fall sooner rather than later."

    Rosseane smiled brightly at the two young ladies and gave them a hearty thumbs up.

    "What the heck are you saying?!"

    The girls retorted in sync again. But they were visibly agitated by Rosseane''s comment which was apparently evident in their inner thoughts.

    "___S-Saturation attacks... As often as possible..."

    "___Gotta be aggressive!... D-Don''t let up..."

    Their faces were beet red and steam was already coming out. Their eyes were spinning in and out of focus.

    Ice felt chills down his spine. It was but a small premonition of the coming storm...

    ***

    After things settled down again, Rosseane was briefed about what went on during the course of the day.

    "So that''s what happened. I thank you on behalf of the royal guards for assisting the princess Mr. Ice."

    "It was nothing. Rather, I feel like I meddled more than I should."

    "Nonsense. If I were there, then I would''ve knocked some sense into that pompous prick''s head as well."

    Rosseane showily cracked her knuckles and made a savage grin.

    "Why weren''t you there anyway Rose?" Sea asked.

    "I''m off duty but some of you guys are supposed to accompany and protect the princess at all times. You''re my second in command so it should be safe to assume you''d take charge of things, especially regarding the princess taking the Class Change test."

    "I was trying to avoid a certain someone..." Rosseane mumbled almost inaudibly.

    "Hmm?"

    "N-Nothing captain. Anyway, the rest of the squad are competent enough. I saw no need to personally attend to the matter. Also, the princess requested me to stall for time so Lord Alder wouldn''t notice she''d sneaked out of the palace until the test began."

    Princess Thelma cutely stuck out her tongue out and made a ''guilty as charged'' expression. Sea and Rosseane looked at her in exasperation.

    "Wait. If some from the Sybilwynd knights were actually guarding the princess the whole time, then why didn''t they appear during that scuffle with lord Nigel? I never noticed anyone else near us when I intervened." Ice asked with a perplexed tone.

    Rosseane and Sea smiled knowingly.

    "We''ve trained to be as unobtrusive to the princess'' daily activities as possible so as not to make her feel boxed in and uncomfortable." Sea explained.

    "Our squad specializes in blending with the environment. We try to be as obscure as we can in order to respect the princess'' privacy while still effectively guarding her without fail.

    You may not have noticed our men Ice, but I''m sure they noticed you. Maybe they judged your intervention would be enough and just let you do your thing. They may even have found you amusing" Rosseane added.

    "___So, instead of calling them knights, maybe it''s more appropriate to label them as ninjas or SPs..." Ice thought with wry grin.

    "Where are the rest of them anyway? The quarters seem rather... empty." Sea inquired as she scanned the place.

    Rosseane made a bitter expression and sighed.

    "Uh, about that... The rest of the squad seemed oddly riled up for some reason. They were polishing their weapons and were asking if that sealed up ancient torture chamber was still in working condition. They even roped in some of the other knight squads.

    Sir Killey and some of the other senior officers took them all to the Calder mountains to cool their heads off a bit before they caused any more of a commotion."

    Rosseane gave Ice a pitying glance as she explained. Ice gave her a strained smile in return, finally understanding what she was getting at.

    "___I don''t really know the guy, but I better make it a point to buy Sir Killey a drink sometime..."

    Sea held an oblivious expression all the while.

    ***

    It was already late into the evening but the prince reagent still hadn''t returned. After  covering pretty much the entire castle grounds, the group decided to call it a night.

    Director Roald and Misha went to talk with the castle steward to arrange a formal meeting at a later date. The rest decided to turn in for the night.

    There was a bit of a commotion when deciding where Ice should sleep in. Thelma suggested one of the guest rooms in the corridor adjacent to the area where her private chambers were located. Sea objected, citing possible security risks as the reason.

    On that note, she suggested Ice bunking in the guard quarters. But Thelma objected as well, citing that the accommodations would be inadequate to properly convey her gratitude.

    Finally, Rosseane arranged a compromise and offered the guest rooms overlooking the palace gardens She later reasoned out that the location was suitably near both Thelma''s room and the guard quarters, providing Sea and Thelma equal opportunities.

    They both played dumb while blushing slightly and ultimately agreed to it in the end. Rosseane gave Ice a playful wink and patted him on the shoulder encouragingly.

    Ice was peeved that they never really considered his opinion on the matter, but thought it better not to voice it out, mostly on instinct.

    ***

    He was now lying on a large canopied bed with a blank look. So much had happened to him already. He was having a hard time processing all of it. He entertained the thought of inspecting his status window but refrained from it. Somehow, he really wasn''t in the mood for complicated stuff.

    He sat up and looked admiringly at the silvery rays of moonlight that were streaming from outside the open window. He felt drawn to them for some reason.

    He got off the bed and slowly walked over, wanting to catch a whiff of the crisp night air. He gazed at the majestic gardens below and a sudden impulse came over him.

    Wearing a mischievous grin on his face, Ice jumped off the veranda, clung to the branches of a nearby tree and dropped down with a soft thud to the garden grounds.

    He once again felt awed by his newly strengthened constitution. He wondered how much more he''d be able to do as he progresses in developing his Class, though it didn''t really seem like a Summoner would be a physical based Class.

    Shaking off his current train of thought, he proceeded to walk towards the center of the garden, resolving to fully enjoy this impromptu late night stroll.

    ***

    He finally arrived at the center of the garden grounds and gazed in wonder at the subject of his fascination; a tall and imposing tree that was situated right in the middle of the palace garden.

    It appeared to be very ancient, yet it also welled with life. Its soaring branches spread majestically towards the heavens and it''s leaves had a bright emerald sheen that glowed in the moonlight.

    Small firefly-like creatures danced all around its grand frame, gathering in abundance at the topmost branches, adorning it with a crown of ethereal lights that glittered like precious jewels.

    The sight took his breath away.

    He marveled at the exquisite details of the wonder in front of him, now more or less quite accustomed to El Fabula''s peculiar state of being. Everything appeared like a free flowing, well rendered piece of quality animation. But it was still fairly novel to him.

    Ice himself looked like an animated character, but how he felt the world around him hadn''t changed much. Or had it? He wasn''t entirely sure now.

    "It''s beautiful isn''t it? It''s called Ylliria and is the symbol of our humble principality."

    As Ice admired the scenery, a calm voice suddenly called out from behind him.

    He turned around to find a tall, well built man with graceful features and a crown of wavy blonde hair smiling warmly at him. The man approached Ice with light steps and stood beside him. He was looking admiringly at the tree. The good natured smile never left his face.

    Ice was dumbfounded for a moment but quickly recovered.

    "G-Greetings your majesty."

    "Oh?"

    The man wore a bemused expression. He faced Ice and began to converse with him in a probing tone.

    "How did you know? I''m pretty sure this is actually our first meeting. From what I''ve heard in the reports, it seems you''re not actually from these parts young man."

    Ice faced him and answered honestly.

    "It was just a hunch your majesty. Your daughter has your eyes."

    The man let out a small chuckle after Ice''s reply. His smile deepened.

    "I hope you''re not implying that I have a maidenly smile lad."

    Now it was Ice''s turn to laugh. His first impression of the man, Lord Alder Falwynd Ricksvale, was rather pleasant. He hoped it was the same for the other party. There was one thing Ice really had to confirm with him though. He built up his courage and asked.

    "Um... Your majesty... The reason why you stayed out so late. Was it really because of what happened during the test?"

    Lord Alder sighed.

    "Yes, it was. You don''t have to worry about it too much though. The Garlands always had a knack for stirring up trouble. It''s not like this is the first time I''d had to deal with them. They shouldn''t bother you much in the future. At least not on my watch lad."

    "Uh... Thank you sire. I''ve really troubled you with this."

    Ice bowed apologetically towards Lord Alder. He grabbed Ice''s shoulder and stopped him from bowing any further.

    "It''s all right lad. In fact, I should be thanking you. Thank you for taking care of my daughter."

    "It was nothing sire. You have a really lovely daughter."

    "I''m quite proud of her. But do refrain from making a move on her just yet lad. I''m too young to become a grandfather."

    Despite him keeping his warm smile, Lord Alder''s aura was strangely menacing. Ice smiled stiffly and nodded as if coerced. Lord Alder''s aura returned to it''s usual good naturedness as if nothing happened.

    "___Man... Parents sure are scary..." Ice thought.

    ***

    The pair passed the time making small talk as they gazed at the tree called Ylliria. Lord Alder was very welcoming and Ice enjoyed their conversations quite well.

    Before long, Lord Alder began to talk to Ice with a serious expression.

    "Ice, I''m going to be honest with you. In order to make the Garlands stop trying to have their grievances against you addressed, I had to take appropriate measures. I already revealed your status as an Exclusive Class adventurer.

    The Garlands are pretty influential and have a wide social circle. It won''t take long for this information to spread, at least among the members of upper society."

    Ice nodded, slowly understanding what Lord Alder was getting at.

    "There''s bound to be people out there who will try and take advantage or make use of you. The allure of an Exclusive Class is just that powerful. I''ll try to shield you from that as much as I can; at least while you''re within this country''s borders.

    But once you go beyond here and head out towards the world, remember to always stay alert and act with caution. You can never be too careful. Though I do plan to assist you even then. Ricksvale may not be a large country. But we do have plentiful avenues of support."

    Ice nodded and expressed understanding about Lord Alder''s course of action regarding Nigel and his family. There was still something worrying him though and it showed in his slightly furrowed brows.

    "What''s wrong lad?" Lord Alder asked.

    "Uh, well... Do forgive me if this sounds rude but... what''s the catch?"

    Lord Alder''s expression finally distorted a bit after Ice''s question. Ice continued probing.

    "Why do all this for me? I get that I sort of saved your daughter and I know what being an Exclusive Class holder means, more or less. But am I really worth all the trouble.?"

    Lord  Alder let out a long sigh. He faced Ice once again with a resigned expression.

    "This could be considered an investment. I risked antagonizing the Garlands because I judged you and your potential to be more beneficial to the country in the long run. Knowing Roald, I''m sure he''s already assured you that this country will not bind you in any way. I plan to adhere to that notion... For the most part that is."

    Ice listened attentively. At the very least, it did seem that Lord Alder would not withhold his intentions from him.

    "This country has been lagging behind when it comes to the race for the exploration of the uncharted lands. In fact, the whole of Valis has fallen quite short to older, more established powers like Ehvenlande and Shaturia. It''s not just lack of manpower. It''s lack of talent.

    Valis is young and does not yet have the foundation nor resources to compete with the rest of the world. Adding even just one more piece with potential will be greatly desirable for the whole continent. But it''s even more so for the country where said piece hailed from as it had a higher chance of reaping more benefits."

    Lord Alder looked straight at Ice, conviction apparent within his strong gaze.

    "As I said, I and this country will not bind you to our services. At least officially. But a debt of gratitude is a powerful thing. Especially for someone who seems so painfully straightforward as you. Your eyes betray that nature. So I''m betting on that nature of yours with part of the future of this country at stake.

    Things may seem peaceful in this continent for the moment. But I''m more than certain that not a few countries will let an opportunity to best all others in Valis pass beyond their collective noses. You may be just one factor. But not an insignificant one. They will attempt to win you over. What I''m doing right now is akin to an opening move. Is this a satisfactory answer lad?"

    Ice smiled in self derision after Lord Alder pointed things out. But with this, he could somewhat accept things. Nothing was free in life. He held on strongly to that notion. He was never a big fan of the concept of altruism. After all, even the most benevolent person would help others out because of that feeling of self satisfaction.

    Ice believed that if someone actually did help purely for the sake of helping, then either that person was extremely deluded, just plain crazy or is ultimately not human. Even he himself was compelled to help Thelma for less benevolent reasons. He does admit it readily.  So Lord Alder''s answer suited him just fine.

    He decided to go along with the arrangement for now.

    "I understand sire. I guess I''ll try to live up to your expectations. Don''t blame me if I fall short though."

    "Of course not. After all, I do plan to offer you my support. You''ll not fail that easily."

    Lord Alder smiled once more. But this time, it wasn''t a good natured one. It was akin to the smile of a shrewd businessman who just closed a favorable deal. Ice could only smile bitterly in return.

    ***

    The young man had already left. Lord Alder''s impression of him was indeed favorable.

    "___But he''s still painfully naive." he thought as he basked in the silver moonlight that illuminated his troubled countenance.

    "___The Council will not stay silent for long. They will once again attempt to get rid of him to prevent any effects that may heavily impact the ''Program''. ''They'' should have already accounted for the possibility. But I see no signs of ''them'' setting up any counter measures. Are ''they'' really trying to use us to do the dirty work? Heh. That''s quite cheeky of ''them''."

    He moved his gaze towards the massive tree in the center of the garden.

    "Hey, Ylliria. Sometimes I really loathe that eccentricity of yours. Of all things to choose to be reborn in, why a tree? You could have at least made yourself useful and helped me out a bit."

    The branches on the massive tree shook lightly, as if in reply. Lord Alder grinned in amusement.

    -Chapter 9 End-

 *Notice

    I''ve finally updated chapter 9 (Yay!). I actually decided to add the rest of the chapter to chapter 10 because of the length. I think it''ll flow better that way. And as for plot holes, I''m aware of at least some of them and hopefully will be able to address them in the near future. Hopefully...

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Anyways, enjoy^^

    P.S. I''m planning to do a kind of preview thing for future chapters. It''s to signify my commitment to continue writing this stuff. A kind of self suggestion if you will. I hope it works lol.

 Chapter 10: First Summon

    "Hmmm... Not on this one either..."

    Ice''s brows were furrowed in slight frustration as he pored over a stack of thick and heavy books. He was currently in the CQMA library, trying to research and gain as much information as he could on Exclusive Classes, the Summoner Class and the mysterious term "Counterpoint".

    He had already made an audience (officially) with Lord Alder earlier during the day. His seemingly tacit understanding with the prince reagent puzzled the others present in the meeting, including princess Thelma. He was a bit relieved that no one attempted to probe further. He excused himself as soon as the formalities were finished and headed straight for the library.

    "___I seem to remember hearing about the term during music class in my college days..."

    Ice vaguely remembered his professor discussing the term but he couldn''t recall the essential points.

    He also attempted to research about the ''capital'' the mysterious woman mentioned back in Maleena, only to realize that having ''capital'' as the only clue wouldn''t get him anywhere. It was a fairly broad topic to investigate on. He didn''t even know which ''capital'' the woman meant. He had pored through the historic records of Ricksvale but did not find anything deeply tied with ''Counterpoints'' or ''Exclusive Classes''.

    Feeling increasingly frustrated from the vain search, he decided to take a breather and switch topics to the more easily found info about the Summoner Class. Of course it was only details about the standard Summoner Class but the info might still give him a bit of a feel for his Exclusive Class so it wouldn''t hurt for him to study the available material.

    He looked at all the available material and took note of all the essential points.

    The Summoner Class was a fairly balanced Class within the magic caster Classes. As implied by the Class name, it utilized summoned creatures that performed a wide variety of roles in and out of battle.

    It had balanced growths for both MP (a standard for most magic caster Classes) and HP, giving the Class a much needed boost in survivability, which was a nice enough bonus considering the characteristic fragility of most others of its Class type.

    It was a fairly popular Class because of its inherently high adaptability but was a little problematic because of the "Affinity" mechanic.

    Affinity was simply put, the amount of trust and understanding between a summon and the Summoner. Without high Affinity, summons tended to ignore commands or forcefully unsummon themselves more often, which is obviously a fairly serious problem considering they were the bread and butter of the Class and without them, a Summoner was essentially crippled.

    It''s a parameter that''s shared by Classes like Creature Tamers. But it was more difficult to raise Affinity as a Summoner because of the lack of passives that provide bonuses to increasing or maintaining Affinity.

    Other than that, it was a pretty versatile Class and experienced Summoners were in fairly high demand because of this trait.

    "___Seems somewhat troublesome." Ice thought.

    He opened his status window and checked out his new Skills. Only one was highlighted and another one was grayed out. The other five had question (?) marks on them. The highlighted Skill read ''Ancient Covenant Summon''.

    Ancient Covenant Summon: ¡ïSummoner/Passive - [Allows one to summon forth guardians that adhere to the ancient covenants made in a forgotten age.] -Special Level Up Conditions-

    "___Well, that certainly wasn''t helpful" Ice grumbled. It didn''t even hint anything regarding the so called ''Special Level Up Conditions''. As far as his research goes, there was no mention of a case regarding Skills that had ''Special Level Up Conditions''. He surmised this was just another one of the ''unknowns'' regarding Exclusive Classes.

    Next, he inspected the grayed out Skill right below Ancient Covenant Summon. It being grayed out means it''s not unlocked yet. It does have a description though.

    Summon Silverpeak''s Fallen Conqueror: ¡ïSummoner/Active - [Summons the once mighty ruler of the ancient Silverpeak mountains.]

    Other Skill details weren''t displayed. They would probably be up once he unlocked the Skill. Still, it sounded pretty powerful, even when just going by the Skill name. Unlocking the Skill would actually almost deplete his APs. But seeing as it''s the only Skill available for unlocking, Ice didn''t really have much of a choice.

    Realizing that he won''t be able to get much progress on further research, Ice finally decided to try the Skill out. He placed the books on the library counter and went outside.

    ***

    Ice went to a small clearing just outside the city gates. He had already spent his APs and unlocked his grayed out Skill and prepared to summon. One cast consumes 50 MP and had a cooldown of 20 minutes. Considering he only had 150 MP, it was a major MP hog. The cooldown time was also quite long. He had to be extra careful not to let his summon''s HP go down to zero that often or he''ll pay dearly for it.

    "___Here goes nothing!"

    Ice activated a summoning Skill for the first time. His eyes were filled with anticipation. An elaborate magic circle manifested on the ground. Bright light filled his vision.

    After what seemed to be an eternity, the light finally subsided. And what appeared before Ice had torn his thoughts asunder. He stood there, stock still; unable to process what was before his eyes at that moment.

    There, in the middle of the clearing, stood in all its glory, a silvery white and robust looking creature.

    "___Sup kid."

    The creature''s deep, baritone voice resounded directly in Ice''s head. Then it proceeded to bite off and chew some wild grass growing nearby.

    Ice was struck speechless.

    It was a fairly sized and absolutely healthy looking male goat (Ram)!

    ***

    "Ba..."

    "___Hmm?"

    "Bambi!"

    Ice became teary eyed and ran over to give the creature a tight hug...

    "Gaaagh!"

    It earned him a swift kick in the gut. His face contorted as he grimaced in pain.

    "___Call me something that cutesy again and next time it''ll be right in the nuts kid." the goat(?) said telepathically in an annoyed tone.

    "S-Sorry... You really reminded me of my pet goat a while back."

    "___Oh please... In what way do I look like a damn pet kid?"

    "But you have the same cute stubby tail..."

    "___Do not describe my tail as cute!"

    "Sorry..."

    "...."

    After a few moments of awkward silence, the goat(?) sighed and approached Ice. It plopped itself right beside him and once again began a telepathic conversation.

    "___Whatever. The name''s Ibex kid. Ibex Silverhorn."

    "I''m Ice."

    "___Mm. So you''re my new Summoner huh. You look a bit shabby but you''ll do."

    "...So you really are my summoned creature?"

    "___Yep."

    "But you''re a goat..."

    "___Is there something wrong with that?"

    "Err... No... I guess..."

    "___For the record kid, I''m no ordinary goat. I''m a proud wild mountain goat!"

    "Uhuh..."

    "......"

    Both man and mountain goat looked up and stared at the clouds leisurely traveling across the sky in silence.

    ***

    At ''The Goddess of Plenty'', a popular restaurant located in the central square of the capital city of Ricksvale, sat a very unusual pair. They attracted a fair share of curious onlookers that created a small commotion just outside the establishment.

    One was a slightly pale looking young man and another was a goat(?!) who sat on a chair as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

    "___Alright kid, we might as well start with the basics. How much do you know?"

    "About what? My Class? Apart from basic knowledge of the standard Summoner Class, practically next to nothing."

    "___So you gotta be taught from the ground up huh. Meh, that suits me just fine. You better thank your lucky stars that you got me as your first summon kid. I''m alright with guiding a rookie like you. As long as you''re attentive and pick the lessons up quickly, I''m good."

    Ibex shrugged and gave Ice a haughty look.

    "Why do you sound like my mentor all of a sudden?" Ice retorted in a slightly annoyed tone.

    "___Heh. Well, in a way, I AM your mentor. Think of me as a convenient guide as you embark on the beginning of the journey to greatness kid."

    Ice looked unimpressed.

    "That sure is a nice way of saying that you''re sort of like a beginners manual for noobs."

    Ibex remained indignant and kept his high attitude.

    "___What? You got a problem with that? Just be thankful you got someone like me looking after you kid. If you summoned any of the others, I doubt they''ll be as agreeable."

    As the unusual pair engaged in telepathic conversation (meaning other people couldn''t hear Ibex''s retorts), a beautiful emerald haired waitress wearing something superficially resembling a maid uniform that was designed to expose as much skin as ethically possible (bared shoulders, midriff, a really, REALLY short skirt and white lace knee socks) brought two dishes to the table.

    One was a triple decker hamburger with thick, meaty patties and the full complement of tomato slices, lettuce and cheese (with a hint of pickles). The other was a hefty slice of lasagna overflowing with creamy b¨¦chamel sauce and rich red meat sauce. It even had garnish.

    "___Oooh! The food looks great. And the ''view'' is even better! He he he. I sure did choose a nice place."

    "...."

    Ice continued making a disillusioned face as he stared blankly at the goat with flaring nostrils.

    The sexy yet cute waitress looked at Ice with a face that revealed curiosity and mild confusion.

    "Um... Mister customer... These are the dishes you ordered."

    She placed the plates filled with food in front of Ice. He smiled bitterly and pointed across the table to Ibex.

    "The hamburger''s for this guy..."

    The waitress'' smile became somewhat stiff for a brief moment. She recovered quickly though; an evident result of the rigorous professional training she underwent as a waitress of ''The Goddess of Plenty'' chain of restaurants.

    "Here you go then."

    She quickly placed the burger in front of Ibex without the slightest hint of agitation. She also arranged the tableware swiftly and efficiently.

    "Will that be all sir?"

    "Yeah, that''ll be all. Thanks."

    Ice answered, trying to sound as indifferent as possible. The waitress politely bowed and walked away. Ice couldn''t help but notice her slightly hurried steps. She tried hard not to show it, but she really did feel a bit freaked out. Ice covered his face in a classic face palm pose.

    "Why''d you want to eat at a restaurant anyway? And why a burger? Aren''t goats herbivorous?..."

    "___Don''t lump me together with ordinary goats kid. I''m an omnivore. And I happen to like meat. Cheese too."

    "...."

    A kid at the nearby table pointed at them with a curious look.

    "Mom, why is that person talking with a goat? And why is he feeding that goat a hamburger?"

    His mother hurriedly pulled the child away and reprimanded him in a light voice.

    "Hush now. Don''t make eye contact! He may just be struggling with life a bit. Let''s just wish him well and pray he recovers."

    Needless to say, Ice wanted to bury himself in a hole from embarrassment. The various stares from the other customers and the restaurant employees kept him from properly tasting his food.

    Ibex took large bites out of the burger without a care in the world, occasionally giving sneaking glances at the beautiful waitresses that went about the restaurant.

    ***

    "___Why''d we need to leave kid? We could''ve discussed things just fine in that restaurant." Ibex asked in a slightly grumpy tone.

    "You really want me to die from embarrassment don''t you." Ice replied in annoyance.

    "___What''s the use of keeping appearances? You care too much about the opinions of others kid."

    Ibex snorted as he gave Ice a critical look. Ice just shrugged it off.

    "What about it? Let''s just stop this. The last thing I want is to get caught debating with a goat. Anyway, about my Exclusive Class..."

    "___Oh alright... I''ll teach you."

    They stopped at an out of the way corner of the city and began discussing about Ice''s Class mechanics.

    "___Let''s start with the basics then. Open your Status Screen first. Open the sub-menu for mine as well while you''re at it."

    Ice did as instructed and found what he saw to be quite odd.

    "___Hm? Wait, what''?s with these stat bonuses?"?Ice pondered; perplexed. He looked at Ibex to find him displaying a goat?s attempt at making a toothy grin.

    "___What?''s wrong kid? Noticed something with your stats? Hehe."

    Ice had clearly remembered just how much additional stats his current equipment provided. But the figures being displayed at the moment were clearly a bit higher than what he recalled. Even more telling was that he now had additional points to total health aside from the +50 he should have gained when he went up to a Basic Class.

    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    "___A total of 505 HP? That''?s about 35 extra points. I originally had +40 total additional points to Str and +65 to Def from my current equipment. I haven''?t changed any of them for something new but now I have an extra +6 to Str and +4 to Def making the points amount to +46 and +69 to Str and Def respectively. It?s not all that big a gain but if my hunch is correct...?"?

    Ice looked incredulously at Ibex whose grin spread even further.

    "___That''?s right kid, your summons, namely me and the rest of those you?''ve yet to meet, actually provide you with Stat Bonuses with set percentages. They?''re based on a part of our own base stats. In my case, right now I''?m providing you with +10% of my total HP, +30% of my Str and 20% of my Def stats. Different summons provide varying combinations of bonuses so you can fine tune your build somewhat.

    This mechanic is called ?''Synchronization?. If, in the future, you manage to unlock more summon Skills, remember that the current you would only be able sync with one of us. So you can?''t stack the bonuses just yet."

    "That still sounds pretty good. So if you guys level up, it''ll also affect my over all abilities right?"

    "___Yep. But there''s a catch. As is common knowledge, you can gain additional stats as you continue doing repeated actions like practicing with your weapon, jogging around or studying like mad.

    You''ll find it significantly more difficult to raise bonus stats this way. You''ll also get less bonus stats when you change Classes. Sort of like a balancing factor. Not to say it''s impossible. Just real difficult."

    Ice''s face brightened in realization.

    "___So that''s why I didn''t get bonuses even though I''ve trained so much."

    But still, Ice didn''t think of it as being much of a drawback. It just meant he had to put in even more effort.

    Ice then proceeded to check Ibex''?s stats to confirm them for himself.

    Name: Ibex Silverhorn

    Ancient Guardian

    Level: 1

    Element: Frost

    HP: 350

    MP: 80

    EP: 120

    Str: 30

    Def: 20

    Agi: 15

    Dex: 15

    Int: 15

    Luk: 10

    Current Affinity: 61%

    Skills: Passive HP Recovery / Cold Aura (Lvl. 1) / Frost Charge (Lvl. 1) / Frost Breath (Lvl. 1) / Intimidation (Lvl. 1)

    Title: Fallen Conqueror [Effect : +3% to Intimidation Skill activation chance]

    "___Well those are some pretty high starting stats." ?Ice thought.

    "___He even has a Title. And those Skills look pretty useful too. Those are Negative Effect causing Passives, a direct Burst Damage melee Skill and a ranged one. If I level him up a bit, this guy might overtake me in overall battle efficiency."?

    Ice looked at Ibex with new found respect.

    In truth, Ice was a bit disappointed when Ibex popped out after he used the summon Skill. He was actually expecting a cute girl... But it seems Ibex does live up to being the summoned creature of an Exclusive Class.

    As far as Ice remembers from his earlier research, ordinary summons rarely had any starter skills except for the standard Passive HP Recovery; much less a Title. Ibex had an additional four Skills plus a Title. And all of them seemed useful.

    Ibex nudged Ice on the arm, snapping him out of his current thoughts.

    "___Hey kid, stop staring slack jawed at the screens like that. You seem to be checking my Skills out so let me discuss those to you as well."

    Ibex made a sound akin to clearing his throat with a light cough (even if he was conversing through telepathy) and restarted his explanations.

    "___Take a look at your Skill Table kid."

    Ice hurriedly did so, not able to mask the slowly building excitement that showed in his expression.

    "___Notice that new sub-menu option beside the ?Hotkey? tab? Open it."

    The tab read ?Extra Skills?. A bar with five empty slots appeared.

    "___Those are Extra Skill slots. You do know you can just skip shouting the names of Active Skills out loud and just activate them using your thoughts if you place them on the Hotkey slots right?"

    Ice nodded.

    "Yeah, I do know that. But I?ve never tried it out. I don?t have any active Skills."

    "___Haha. Well now you do kid. Or at least, now you have the option to have one. That?s how the Extra Skill slots work. You can place a Skill from any of your summons and use it as your own. Of course, this works with passives as well.

    There are currently some limits though. You can only set one Skill from each summon for the moment. Since you only have me, you can only choose one of my present Skills to place on a slot. If you gain some more summons, your options would be more varied.

    Another drawback is that the overall effectiveness of the Skill will be determined largely through Affinity. If you have low Affinity with your summons, the Skills will obviously be weaker."

    Ice listened very attentively. He had already opened the Record sub-menu and was busily taking notes. He planned to review them later and remember them by heart.

    "___On that note, let?s talk about Affinity next. Raising Affinity for summons, especially for beings like us, is fundamentally different from raising it for a tamed monster.

    This is because we are generally prouder and more stubborn than your average monster. In your case, Ancient Guardians like us all hold a certain standard towards the one we?ll swear our services to.

    We may have made a covenant with the forerunner of your Exclusive Class. But the successors are different from the forerunner. If we judge you to be unworthy, we have the right to withhold our support.

    While we did swear allegiance, we? are not mindless slaves. The covenant is a bond of equals. If we do not consider you as an equal worthy of respect, how could we ever serve you?"

    Ibex was radiating an aura of majesty as he spoke. True to his words, his visage overflowed with pride.

    Ice made a determined expression. He swore to work hard in order to gain that respect.

    "But why are you cooperating with me like this Ibex? If you really are as proud as you say you are, shouldn?t you have tested me out first or something? (That?s the common trope anyway.)"

    "___I may be proud, but I?m also quite the opportunist." Ibex replied in a light tone.

    ¡°___If I judge something would greatly benefit me, I¡¯m more than willing to swallow my pride. I¡¯ve already waited for far too long for another ¡ïSummoner to appear. I¡¯ll just have to work on you till I¡¯m satisfied. I can¡¯t speak for the others though. You?ll have to deal with them yourself."

    Ice nodded in acknowledgement of Ibex?''s answer.

    Ibex continued to give detailed explanations and Ice made efforts to keep up and record the important points. They had continued to discuss things well into the day.

    ***

    It was already a few minutes past noon when the pair finally decided to take a break from Ibex?''s crash course on the ¡ïSummoner Class.

    They decided to make preparations for hunting monsters so Ibex can begin grinding his levels. Ice also wanted to test out their team work in real battles.

    The pair had barely made it out of the city plaza when someone suddenly grabbed Ice?s arm while giggling happily.

    "I finally found you dummy. Where have you been? The princess told me you went straight to the library but I didn?t catch you there."?

    Ice would recognize that voice anywhere.

    "Hi Sea. I was just busy testing out my new Class."?

    "Oh. If I remember correctly, you?re a Summoner right?"

    "Uhuh. I?ve already summoned earlier this morning."

    Sea?''s eyes widened in obvious excitement.

    "Really? So where?s your summoned creature?"

    ?"Uh? Right here?"

    Ice pointed towards Ibex who was seemingly busy using his handy BWH scouter while checking Sea out.

    "Oh my. What a cute goat!" Sea exclaimed in delight.

    "And look, his horns are silver. His fur is so white. And that cute tail?"

    Sea suddenly gave Ice a pleading look.

    "Um, Ice? C-Can I pat him?"

    Ibex was certainly looking eager. Ice sighed in resignation.

    "Go right ahead?"

    "Yay! Come here you adorable thing you."

    Ibex looked like he was having the time of his life. He was actually sort of blushing. Ice didn''t even know goats were able to blush.

    Ice hailed Ibex using their telepathic link.

    "___And I thought you disliked being called cute."

    "___That depends on the one calling me cute. I said I was an opportunist remember? What fool would pass up being coddled by such a pretty lady?! And she''s got quite the ''package'' too. Nyehehehehe."

    Ice gave Ibex a blank look.

    At that point, he had already made a mental note to start reffering to Ibex as ''Horny''.

    ***

    Sea had finally satisfied herself with patting Ibex and was currently sporting a refreshed expression. The three of them were now currently seated on a bench in the city park.

    "So, what are you planning to do now?"? Sea inquired.

    "Uh, I?m planning on heading out to start leveling this guy up."?

    Ice gave Ibex a complicated look. It seems he was still basking in the afterglow after Sea''s masterful patting.

    "Aww. Look at the lil'' fellow. You''d look after him properly right Ice?"

    "Ahaha... Of course I will. Don''t worry Sea."

    Ice laughed awkwardly as he replied.

    "___I don''t think he needs looking after though."

    But after looking at Ibex making a goat''s version of a fairly stupid expression, Ice did a quick double take.

    "___On second thought , maybe he does..."

    Ice could only shake his head in slight annoyance.

    "Oh, that reminds me! Since you''re going for a monster hunt, take these with you Ice. They''ll help keep you safe."

    Sea took out some items from her storage and presented them to Ice, who was now staring at them wide eyed.

    "But these are..."

    What Sea brought out were a long and sleek looking black dagger with a fine red tinted point, a short sleeved vest lined with blood red fur and a necklace made from a large animal fang.

    "Remember that Alpha Sable Wolf we encountered a while back Ice? These equipment were made from the loot it dropped.

    The dagger and vest are for those above level 30 but you can equip the necklace right away. It raises both Str and Agi by a fair amount so it''ll definitely be useful for you."

    Ice''s hunch was right. These were definitely high level rare equipment.

    *Ebony Thorn - Dagger/Rare : A sleek, lightweight and perfectly balanced dagger suitable for piercing attacks. Since it doesn''t reflect much light, it''s a weapon favored by Assassins.

    Level Requirement: 35

    Str: +140

    Crit Chance: +10%

    Effect: 15% more damage with Piercing Attacks

    *Crimson Wolf Vest - Leather Armor/Rare : Leather vest made from the skin and fur of a high ranking species of Lupine monster. Has excellent flexibility and toughness. Its fur lining provides good insulation.

    Level Requirement: 32

    Def: +85

    Dex: +30

    Effect: 10% more damage to Lupine monsters, 15% resistance to Frozen

    *Crimson Fang Necklace - Accessory/Rare : Necklace worn by young warriors of several native Northern tribes in the Valis continent as a proof of valor and coming of age.

    Level Requirement: 20

    Str: +30

    Agi: +20

    Effect: Increases damage by 10-15% when HP falls below 20%

    He inspected each of them in turn and the equipment''s stats and effects didn''t disappoint.

    "A-Are you sure. I mean, these are all rare equips right?"

    "It''s fine. I don''t really have any use for these. Besides, I actually had these made for you Ice."

    "M-Me. Why?"

    "Eh?... Um... Cause I''d be troubled... if you got hurt..."

    Sea''s face became redder by the second and her reply to Ice''s question became a quiet mumble near the end. But Ice heard it like it came from a sub woofer with digital surround sound.

    The prickly sweet atmosphere was interrupted by Ibex lightly nudging Ice with his horns.

    "___Time to wake up Romeo. We gotta go. It''s getting late in the afternoon."

    "Sheesh. I know already. I gotta go Sea."

    "Eh? Ah! O-Okay. Be careful out there."

    "Will do. Come on you."

    As the pair left the plaza, Ibex couldn''t resist egging on Ice and he teased him good naturedly.

    "___That was a fine young lady, kid. Nice going. If you got anymore cute acquaintances, be sure to introduce me alright."

    "Whatever..."

    "___Hehehehe."

    Ice rapped Ibex''s horns lightly and led the way towards the city gates.

    -Chapter 10 End-

 Chapter 11: One Crisis After Another

    "Gwaaah!..."

    The dying scream of a Red Goblin resounded within the Alnuss woods. A silvery white blur flashed past, weaving through the rugged terrain of the forest floor littered with large rocks, fallen branches, thick tree roots and decaying stumps almost effortlessly.

    "Woah..."

    Ice stared admiringly at Ibex as he repeatedly downed the goblins without even giving them any chance to retaliate.

    It was already late in the afternoon and the two of them had been hunting monsters nonstop ever since they entered the woods.

    Ice had taken the initiative at first. But after a few level ups, Ibex began to hunt monsters by himself, making full use of his Skills and advantages to achieve staggering results.

    Ibex was currently hunting Red Goblins; the bigger, meaner cousin of Maleena village''s Lesser Goblin. But Ibex was able to overcome the difference in levels with clever battle tactics.

    He had utilized his advantage in speed and agility to execute effective hit and run attacks, harrying the monsters with rapid strikes and immediately getting away before the enemies can throw a counter blow.

    The goblin''s short limbs and chubby bodies proved to be ineffective in giving chase to the fast moving Ibex.

    He dealt significant damage by using the Frost Charge Skill repeatedly. The maximum damage of the Skill increased relative to the distance traveled with a running charge. Ibex used this to great effect, ensuring an effective means of attack without compromising survivability.

    If, by some chance, goblins managed to get close, he used Frost Breath to ward them off and fled immediately. Frost Breath had a relatively short cooldown time (4 seconds) so even if it dealt low damage, it was still really effective.

    Both Frost Charge and Frost Breath had small chances of freezing an opponent as well. Add Cold Aura (Adds 4% chance of inflicting Frozen via normal attack) and Intimidation (Adds 3% chance of inflicting Intimidated to opponent via normal attack, lowering opponent''s attack by 15-20% for 60 seconds) Ibex had a fair chance of inflicting some Negative Effects, which only adds to his advantages.

    The poor goblins never stood a chance!

    Ice was totally floored.

    "___Damn, he''s good... I gotta work harder or I won''t be able to keep up."

    It wasn''t like Ice was completely idle during Ibex''s single handed drubbing of the unfortunate goblins. He had also hunted quite a few of them himself. Most of their attack patterns were similar to their lower leveled cousin so Ice had a relatively easy time bringing them down.

    Their slow, hobbling gait and poor swing speed posed no threat to Ice. Their attack was comparatively higher than most Level 17 monsters Ice had encountered. But it wasn''t much of a problem since they couldn''t hit him anyway. This was one of the major reasons why he had decided to grind in the area.

    Ice also made an effort to divert aggro from Ibex whenever he judged the numbers that went after the fast moving summon were too much for comfort. He didn''t want to take any chances, especially since Ibex''s Def stats weren''t enough to ward off the goblin''s attacks should one manage to hit. Ibex couldn''t wear any of the defensive equipment available in the city after all.

    This was one of the disadvantages of summoned creatures. They couldn''t wear any equipment that''s not specified for them. Equipment shops that held goods that were for specific summoned creatures were few and far between. And craftsmen who could fashion custom equipment for them were even rarer.

    This disadvantage was even more pronounced in Ibex''s case since he was, for the most part, a unique summoned creature. Ice planned to try searching for compatible equipment anyway. But that was saved for later and right now, they''ll have to make due.

    Ice also suffered a steep penalty if his summon died. A significant chunk of his HP gets shaved off whenever a summon''s HP gets reduced to zero. The more summons he has out, the greater the risk. So much so that Ice had thought it to be a little unfair. Micromanaging, awareness of the current battlefield situation, quick thinking, decisiveness and adaptability were paramount. His was really a pretty troublesome Class.

    Yet one useful thing Ice discovered about his Class was complete control regarding experience sharing with his summons. He was free to choose the EXP distribution amounts between him and Ibex regardless of level difference.

    He had been quick to take advantage of this fact and this was how he had power leveled Ibex to Level 14 in just a few of hours. They were now sharing at a 40%/60% split with Ibex set as priority. Ice didn''t want to neglect raising his own level so he adjusted it as such.

    They continued to grind like that for a few more hours until the sun began its decent towards the horizon in earnest. Ice had gained an additional level and Ibex went up all the way to Level 16.

    ***

    It was already near evening when the pair decided to call it quits for the day. The surroundings were getting dark and the cries of nocturnal insects began to resound in the woods.

    Some monsters become more aggressive during the night. Some were even buffed a bit, increasing their overall parameters. Some Wolf and a number of other Lupine types were a common example. More physically evident changes would also take place in others (longer fangs and claws, bulkier bodies and the like). That''s why they were trying to pick up the pace before the sun sets totally and night begins in earnest.

    "We''ve hunted quite a few. That was some amazing stuff back there. You seem really used to this." Ice exclaimed in an amazed tone.

    Ibex held his head up proudly.

    "Of course! I''m an ancient existence that has gone through countless battles. Even if my level resets every time the link with my summoner is terminated, my memories remain relatively intact. It''s both a boon and a bane for something like me..."

    Ibex suddenly grew quiet after the short exchange. His eyes revealed a solemn, far away look; most likely remembering past experiences. Ice grew quiet as well. He had tried to imagine how it would feel had he shared Ibex''s circumstances.

    They continued walking in accompanied silence.

    "?!"

    Ibex suddenly stopped in his tracks, surprising Ice. But he had also noticed the abnormality and raised his alertness. Somehow, the palpable feeling of tension and dread that hung in the air was quite familiar.

    "___It''s pretty similar to that time." Ice thought.

    The surroundings were quiet. Too quiet. Eerily so. It was also like this when he encountered the Sable Wolf.

    "___Keep your guard up kid. This smells like trouble..." Ibex warned.

    Ice was constantly scanning the immediate area around them, trying to pick up any sign of danger. He had taken out one teleport stone and prepared to use it to get back to town. He didn''t want to use them that often if possible since they were rare and valuable commodities, but this was an emergency so Ice felt it couldn''t be helped. But he was surprised by the unexpected outcome.

    "___What''s wrong?" Ibex asked.

    "It''s the teleport stone. It''s not working! I can''t bring up the Use command button." Ice exclaimed. Traces of panic tinged his voice.

    "?!"

    Ibex''s eyes opened wide in surprise.

    "___Not working? But that''s..."

    Ibex grew even more alert, dutifully scanning the surroundings, seemingly looking for something.

    "What''s wrong? What are you looking for?" Ice asked.

    Before Ibex could answer, a deafening roar pierced throughout the woods. The ground shook with intermittent rumbles and within moments, the source of the roar bore down on the pair.

    *Ruaaaaah!

    It was a huge monster resembling a black furred bear; albeit a very brutal looking one. It had huge spikes lining up its back and its fore paws were equally imposing, with long sharp claws protruding from the tips. Its forehead had rune-like markings that glowed crimson in the fading daylight. Its bloodshot eyes looked intimidatingly at the pair.

    Ice used Keen Eye to inspect the monster and was shocked by its specs, which he thought was overkill at their level.

    _______________________________________________________________________________

    Obsydian Edgeback (Area Boss)

    Level: 50

    HP: 8500

    Exp. Gain: 4000

    Info: An aggressive and exceedingly brutal mammalian beast type monster that makes its lairs in the northern forests of the Valis continent. Very territorial, it will not let interlopers escape and would gore them with its razor sharp claws and fangs. The spikes protruding from its back are extremely hard and are valued crafting material.

    _______________________________________________________________________________

    It was an Area Boss, of all things! But Ice was sure the Edgeback was not the Alnuss wood''s boss monster. He had read up on the monster data around the surrounding areas during his time at the library and was sure of this fact.

    "___It really is similar." Ice thought. "___It had been this way with the Sable Wolf too. That thing also wasn''t supposed to appear anywhere near Maleena village."

    And now, Ice discovered that convenient means of escape like teleport stones were unusable. The circumstances really were far too suspicious. But right now, he had his mind occupied with trying to think up other means of escape. Fighting back never even crossed his mind. The differences in levels were too great. And bosses had significantly more superior stats than average high level monsters.

    It really was no contest. Ice had a feeling that just being hit by one swipe of the Edgeback''s claws would be enough to kill him.

    The important thing was to live! If you lived then you could always try to redeem yourself. But you won''t be able to do anything if you''re dead. But could he do it? Could he survive?

    The Edgeback let out a terrifying roar once more and inched ever closer towards the pair. Ibex nudged Ice with his horns and prompted him to action with an urgent tone.

    "___Kid. Kid! Snap out of it and get on me!"

    "Eh?"

    Ice made a dumbfounded look, not understanding what Ibex said for a moment.

    "___Didn''t you hear me? I said get on! Oh forget it!"

    Ibex suddenly bit on the collar of Ice''s leather armor. He then unceremoniously tossed the still dumbfounded Ice onto his back with a snap of his powerful neck.

    "Eh! Wait, wha-?"

    Ice was now mounted on Ibex''s back. He had started running the moment he confirmed Ice was in position. Ice looked a bit awkward because Ibex''s size could not fully accommodate his now considerably taller stature. Thus, he needed to fold his legs to avoid them hitting the ground as Ibex ran at full speed.

    ¡°___You comfortable up there kid?¡±?

    ¡°Eh?! That¡¯s- Woah!¡±?

    Ice floundered clumsily on Ibex¡¯s back. The path was littered with obstructions but Ibex paid them no heed and just weaved straight through some and leapt above others. He was tracing as straight a path as he could manage as the rampaging Edgeback gave chase.

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°___Grab my horns kid. Try not to fall off.¡±?

    Ice had done as Ibex suggested and gradually got accustomed to riding the fast moving mountain goat as he grabbed Ibex''s long horns like the handlebars of a large motorbike. It was the birth of the Harley Davidson mountain goat express!

    Ice looked back to find the Edgeback not too far behind, barreling through trees and rocks with relative ease. Its large body allowed it to cover great distances in just a few short bounds, allowing it to keep pace with them and not lag behind.

    ¡°Damn, that¡¯s really unfair! You¡¯re a huge monster so behave like one and go slower dammit!¡± Ice shouted in complaint to the boss monster giving chase.

    ¡°___Kid, you got a comm. glyph on you?¡± Ibex asked as he ran through the woods at full speed.

    ¡°Eh? Yeah, I have one. I got it from Sea before we went to the capital.¡± Ice replied.

    ¡°___Good. Do you have that young lady we met earlier in your contact list?¡±?

    ¡°Yeah, I do. Wait, you want me to contact her and ask for help?¡±?

    ¡°___Yeah. From the looks of her equipment, she must¡¯ve been a member of a knight order correct? She seemed at a pretty high level too. Call her. We won¡¯t be able to survive this otherwise.¡±?

    Ice was a bit reluctant. He felt he didn¡¯t want to trouble Sea any more than he had to.

    ¡°___What are you doing kid? Hurry up and call her. I won¡¯t be able to keep this up indefinitely. Don¡¯t let your pride get in the way of survival!¡±?

    Ice got over his hesitation after Ibex¡¯s reprimand. He just decided to repay this favor several times over when he gains sufficient strength. For now, he needed to live in order to keep that chance of getting stronger from getting extinguished.

    ***

    Sea was currently meeting with some of her subordinates within the royal guard quarters when she received Ice¡¯s distress call. Her face instantly paled and she took off without any hesitation, leaving the others in stunned silence.

    ¡°Eh? Wait, captain! What¡¯s wrong? Eh?!¡±?

    A petite girl with short golden hair styled in several ringlet curls called out to Sea in surprise after she bolted out the door of the guard quarters.

    ¡°Go and follow her Sasha. Take Evann with you. I can only think of a few reasons that could make the captain go all frantic like that. And if my hunch is correct, this one is due to a certain gentleman. Judging from her face just now, it might be pretty serious.¡±?

    Rosseane immediately gave out orders to follow Sea. Sasha¡¯s eyes glittered abruptly with curiosity and gave a perfunctory salute, finally turning towards a sleepy looking yet relatively handsome auburn haired young man.

    ¡°Come on Evann! We gotta follow the captain and find out what¡¯s going on.¡±?

    ¡°Yeah, yeah. I get it. Don¡¯t pull. I can walk by myself.¡± he replied in a bored tone.

    ¡°Don¡¯t walk! Run! Let¡¯s daaaash!¡± Sasha exclaimed energetically as she pulled Evann by the arm with surprising strength.

    ¡°Woah! I said don¡¯t pull. DON¡¯T PULL!¡±?

    The pair raced to follow Sea outside the castle town.

    ***

    Ice and Ibex were still on the run from the boss monster. They had covered quite a distance and were now nearing the entrance to the woods. The Edgeback was letting out frustrated roars at them as it continued to give chase.

    ¡°Damn, just how persistent is he? Just how much is the aggro on that thing?" Ice exclaimed.

    ¡°___We just have to focus on running away. Hold on tight. We¡¯re nearing the edge of the woods. I¡¯m gonna pick up the pace.¡±?

    Ibex bolted out with increased vigor as soon as he had spotted the end of the tree line. They were just a few meters away. But then

    ¡°___Wha-?!¡±?

    Ibex¡¯s pace noticeably slowed down. He had been hit with a Slow spell. The Edgeback didn¡¯t miss the opportunity and covered the distance in a couple of big leaps. In an instant, the pair was within the range of its massive claws.

    "?___Damn!?"

    Ibex suddenly threw Ice off. The momentum made Ice roll over several times on the ground before finally halting. His HP was shaved a little. He frantically stood up and turned towards Ibex.

    Ibex had confronted the Edgeback to try and buy some time, but he was woefully under-leveled. He had only been able to dodge blows a couple of times before finally being downed by a powerful swipe of the boss monster''s brutal looking claw.

    Before he died and got forcefully unsummoned, Ibex was able to hail Ice telepathically as a last ditch effort. He told Ice only one thing...

    "___Run!"

    Ice''s HP took a hit when Ibex died, but he didn''t pay it any heed. He had started running in earnest. He had to survive this!

    There were no signs of other adventurers in the immediate area. And even if there were, who would dare approach a boss monster whose level was clearly far too high for this area''s general difficulty range.

    One small hope is that he''d encounter high leveled adventurers that were making their way towards Ricksvale''s capital. But that heavily depended on luck. And who''s to say if they''ll actually bother helping him at all.

    He had to hold on until Sea found him using the comm. glyph''s tracking signal. He literally ran for dear life.

    But the Edgeback was just too much for the current Ice. Within moments, it had already caught up and had Ice within striking distance of its claws. And when everything just seemed totally hopeless...

    "Ice!"

    Help arrived!

    ***

    Sea ran furiously and reached Ice within moments. She deflected the monster''s claw attack and leapt towards it. She landed on its arm and bolted up like a loosed arrow, finally arriving on the Edgeback''s shoulder and gave it a swift and powerful kick on the side of its head.

    The monster staggered and fell back on its haunches, visibly shaken. A considerable amount of its HP was shaved off from that one kick.

    "___S-So strong..."

    Ice went wide eyed in surprise. He had seen Sea''s prowess when she had fought with the Sable Wolf. But he had refrained from inquiring about her actual level; a bit due to the small measure of pride he had stubbornly clung to at the time.

    But Sea had once again shown just how formidable she was. She had only kicked a level 50 area boss, but that one kick had silenced the once aggressively snarling monster. It had even looked a little cowed.

    Just how high of a level was she to be able to do all that with just one kick?!

    "Phew. We''ve finally caught up. Are you alright sir?"

    A girl with golden hair that was styled in several ringlet curls knelt down and checked up on Ice. Behind him was a young man with sleepy looking eyes that had looked a little grumpy as well.

    Ice surmised they were Sea¡¯s comrades judging from their equipment. Their armor, barring some cosmetic differences here and there, greatly resembled the one Sea was wearing.

    ¡°I¡¯m alright. But Sea¡­¡±

    ¡°The captain will be fine. That boss monster looks to be at the 50s to 60s range. She¡¯ll eat bosses like that for breakfast. Why¡¯d we even come out here anyway? We¡¯re pretty much not needed.¡± the young man told Ice matter-of-factly in a disinterested tone.

    The girl nudged the young man¡¯s stomach lightly and pouted.

    ¡°That way of putting it is kind of rude Evann! I¡¯m sorry. What he meant is that captain is as strong as she is beautiful.¡±

    Ice just nodded lightly; getting influenced by the girl¡¯s bright smile.

    They had turned their attention to the ongoing battle, becoming silent spectators to the struggle between the beauty and the beast.

    ***

    Sea had not given the Edgeback a chance to retaliate. She had continued to rain down furious slashes at the monster in a never ending torrent of attacks.

    The Edgeback tried to curl up and use its spikes for defense, but Sea had cut through those effortlessly as well, wracking the monster with intense pain. It had let out agonized wails.

    The sight was so utterly merciless that the three people that composed the gallery (Ice, Evann and Sasha) actually felt sorry for the boss monster.

    After its HP fell below 10%, the Edgeback tried to retreat. Ice had expected Sea to let it go, but it did not go as he envisioned.

    ¡°Running away?! How shameful for something of your caliber. Face your death head on like a true master of beasts.¡±

    She chased it down and, after jumping onto its shoulders, gave the monster the coup de gras by stabbing the back of its head.

    The monster gave out one final agonizing wail and collapsed dead.

    ***

    Sea immediately ran over to where Ice and the others were after finishing the boss monster off. She had a really worried expression on her flushed face; the face on an angel. And yet Ice could only stare blankly at her, not knowing how to react.

    She grabbed his hands and held them to her chest as she looked at him with eyes filled with concern.

    ¡°Ice! Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?¡±

    Snapping out from his stupor somewhat, Ice shook his head frantically.

    ¡°N-No. I¡¯m perfectly fine. See. Not even a bruise.¡±

    He had hurriedly stood up and made a placating gesture, telling Sea not to worry.

    ¡°That¡¯s good then. I was really worried you know.¡±

    ¡°Ahahaha¡­¡±

    Ice let out an awkward laugh. He made a mental note never to piss Sea off under any circumstance.

    ¡°A-Anyway, now that that¡¯s settled, let¡¯s go ahead and return to the city. It¡¯s getting pretty late after all.¡± Sasha suggested.

    The others nodded in assent and they all began heading back towards the city.

    ***

    "We have failed. We have to notify the praetor right away for further instructions."

    "Understood. We must not let the ''Impurity'' linger in this world any longer."

    Two shadows emerged from the cover of trees and ran southward.

    -Chapter 11 End-

    *Note

    Levels, names and other details don''t usually show up on top of peoples heads in El Fabula (except for HP in the event of a fight). There''s an option to show them of course. But there''s the issue of privacy. Also, currently, no Skill is capable of revealing a persons stats to others like that of Keen Eye for monsters. There might be a method to do it. But odds are, it would be considered illegal and would be banned. At least in normal circumstances.

    Seasoned veterans try to gauge levels through looking at the other persons Skills and equipment. And it''s effective for the most part, though there are means to lower the level requirement for equipment as well, making things a bit trickier.

 Chapter 12: Past and Determination

    Ice had already returned to the inn he was currently staying at (He had vacated the palace guest room earlier, much to Sea and Thelma''s disappointment.) and plopped himself wearily on the bed.

    He was still shuddering from the earlier incident. This was the second time he was put in a life or death predicament. And the circumstances were exceedingly suspicious. He had stared at the ceiling in silence, trying to take all of the implications of the recent chain of events in.

    Truthfully, he had felt a little arrogant when he promoted to a Basic Class. Monsters near his current level or lower were generally no match for him. But the earlier event served to deflate his ego. Sea''s prowess was also far too awe inspiring.

    "___I''ve got to get stronger." Ice thought as he gritted his teeth in frustration. He knew being impatient won''t do any good. But he couldn''t help it.

    He had decided to resummon Ibex to check out how he was doing. The stalwart mountain goat summon appeared shortly after Ice used his Skill.

    "___So you''re alive. That''s good." Ibex exclaimed in a relieved tone.

    "You alright?" Ice asked.

    "___Me? I''ve already ''died'' more times than I could count in the past. This much is nothing." Ibex replied nonchalantly.

    Ice smiled lightly in self-derision. He felt so inadequate compared to the rest of his peers and acquaintances, even in El Fabula. Even his summoned creature was tougher and more level headed.

    But he halted his current train of thoughts before he went on another negative spiral. What he needed to do right now is get his bearings straight and work extra hard on getting stronger, one step at a time.

    But he couldn''t do that without running the risk of getting into another crisis like the one from earlier. He could continue relying on Sea and the others for protection. But he got rid of the notion immediately.

    Sea had her own responsibilities as royal guard captain. He couldn''t just ask her to abandon her duty and become his bodyguard instead. And besides, it would actually be pretty lame of him, Ice thought. He''d solve his problems himself. The only question was how...

    Ibex observed him quietly for some time. Finally, after a period of brooding silence, he called Ice''s attention with an urgent tone.

    "___Hey kid... I have a couple of questions for you."

    "Go on..."

    Ice looked at Ibex with interest, curious about what he wanted to ask.

    "___Was this the first time you''ve encountered a situation like that of earlier? Or have there been prior incidents? Not the normal monster encounters but highly unusual circumstances..."

    Ice was a little intrigued. Why would Ibex ask that? It''s as if he''d inferred such events had already happened and was just asking for confirmation.

    "___No, this isn''t the first time. Something similar happened just a few days after I found myself in Maleena." Ice replied, curious about Ibex''s reaction.

    "___I see..."

    Ibex had remained silent, seemingly struggling while pondering about something. His goat brows were furrowed tight and his eyes were closed. He finally opened them after some time and looked at Ice with a serious gaze.

    "You know something don''t you?" Ice probed.

    Ibex sighed in resignation.

    "___Fine. I still feel it''s a tad too early, but it seems your case is a bit special."

    "What is it then? What do you know?" Ice prompted.

    "___It seems I gotta give it to you from the start eh." Ibex exclaimed with a hint of reluctance in his voice. He audibly sighed this time (or made a sound that was as close to a goat sighing as possible) and looked straight at Ice, throwing caution to the winds.

    "___Kid... You familiar with the concept of reincarnation?" Ibex asked with a straight (goat)faced expression.

    "Yeah, sure. Being reborn as a different existence after dying right? Why?"

    Ibex gave Ice a wry grin. Ice''s expression slowly turned to one of realization.

    "Wait, you''re not saying..."

    Ibex''s grin deepened.

    "___Yep. That''s exactly what I''m saying kid."

    "Y-You''ve actually reincarnated?!"

    Ice''s face became red with shock.

    ***

    Ice stared at Ibex with a dumbfounded look.

    "___Reincarnation huh... I get that this theme is pretty common in recent web novels but... Come to think of it, getting sent to another world is also pretty common... This sure is one tropey fic?..."

    He was having another one of his otaku monologues.

    "___Hey kid, I get that you''re shocked, but we should really move on with the discussion." Ibex prompted, sounding a bit annoyed.

    "Oh, right. Yeah. Sorry. Sooo... Reincarnation huh?"

    "___Yep. I died. I mean really died. Head got blown off and stuff. And next thing I know, I was reborn in this world. The place actually looking like it was animated took a little getting used to."

    Ibex sighed lightly as he reminisced about past events.

    Ice''s curiosity was increasing by the moment. If Ibex was reincarnated here, then it was possible he also came from Earth. He asked Ibex to confirm it, but sadly, the answer wasn''t what he''d hoped.

    "___Earth? No, I''m not from over there. I was originally from a world called Ovis Norvus."

    Ice''s face darkened in disappointment. He would''ve wanted someone to talk to about his home world. It was pretty stressful having to pretend not to have any memories of where he came from after all.

    "___Cheer up kid. It''s not like I don''t know the feeling of being a stranger in another world. And besides, I kind of remember someone from the guardians mentioning he was from Earth. I don¡¯t remember exactly who though. It¡¯s kind of an unwritten rule for us not to talk about our pasts with each other too much. It¡¯s kind of a sensitive topic y¡¯see.?

    ¡°Really?¡±?

    Ice brightened up a little from that information. At least, now he knew he wasn¡¯t exactly alone, though he had yet to meet this fellow former Earthling. But he did a double take, realizing he just gave away crucial info about himself inadvertently. He wanted to slap himself for getting careless.

    "___Ha ha, your expression tells me you''re worried about revealing the fact that you''re from another world. Don''t worry. All the ¡ïSummoners that came before you were in pretty much the same situation. We''re all strangers here. Foreign elements that got sent here for some unknown purpose."

    "How can I be sure you''re telling the truth." Ice asked apprehensively.

    Ibex smirked mischievously.

    "___You can''t. You''ll just have to trust me on this. You want some answers right? I''m just adhering to your request. Whether or not you''ll believe me is up to you."

    Ice narrowed his eyes and looked straight at Ibex. Ibex didn''t turn away and returned the gaze. Ice sighed in resignation and scratched his head with a complicated expression on his face.

    "Fine, I''ll trust you for now. You''re my summon after all. You''re necessary for me if I want to survive long enough to find out exactly what''s going on. If I can''t even rely on my summons, then I''m practically screwed anyway."

    Ibex nodded in acknowledgement.

    "But it must have been hard for you at the start huh. You being reincarnated as a mountain goat and all."

    Ibex made a hearty laugh (though it sounded more like bleating to the average person) at Ice¡¯s comment.

    ¡°___Gahahahaha! No, no, it¡¯s not like that at all. Ahahahaha! Oh damn¡­ My stomach¡­¡±??

    Ice was a bit upset by Ibex¡¯s reaction and retorted in an annoyed tone.

    ¡°What? What¡¯s so funny?¡±?

    ¡°___No, it¡¯s nothing? Ha ha, it¡¯s not your fault kid. You¡¯ve only seen me in this form after all.¡±?

    ¡°Hm?¡±?

    Ice already had an inkling as to what Ibex was getting at, but had him continue his explanation to confirm.

    ¡°___Kid, the form I¡¯m appearing in right now isn¡¯t my true reincarnated body. I was actually a human, just like you. I was also humanoid when I got reborn here.¡±?

    ¡°Then why do you look like that now? Why¡¯d you become a summoned creature in the first place?¡± Ice asked.

    ¡°___Well, put simply, I died¡­ Again¡­ But my soul didn¡¯t move on to whatever plane it was supposed to move on to. I got trapped in some place sort of like limbo or something. Then things happened and I got roped in to becoming a guardian for the first ¡ïSummoner.¡± Ibex explained further.

    ¡°Wait, let me get this straight: You died and were reborn in El Fabula. Then after some time, you died again but your soul didn¡¯t move on and you somehow or other became the guardian from my predecessor.¡±

    ¡°___Yep.¡±

    Ibex nodded in the affirmative.

    ¡°That explanation¡¯s a bit lacking in detail. And how are your circumstances connected to my current predicament, exactly?¡± Ice complained and inquired further.

    ¡°___I was about to get to that.¡± Ibex replied.

    ¡°___I¡¯ve clarified the fact that I was reincarnated right? I was born in a world with a pretty advanced civilization - airships, particle cannons and stuff like private virtual idols housed in VR consoles you could actually dive into so he or she could give you a private concert. Or sometimes, even more private things¡­ if you catch my drift¡±??

    Ibex winked suggestively after the last part.

    ¡°That¡¯s some serious tech; especially the virtual idol thing!¡± Ice exclaimed excitedly.

    ¡°___I know right! Mine was a redhead packing some serious backside assets. Had some decent knockers too.¡± Ibex replied with his face flushed red.

    They nodded their heads in silent agreement.

    ¡°___Anyway, as I was saying, I belonged to a family with deep military roots, and so my old man forcefully enlisted me in the army. To get some muscle on me or something. I was pretty wimpy as a kid. My old man didn¡¯t want to have any of it so he packed me away and sent me on a military plane wearing just my trousers¡±??

    Ibex wore an awkward expression as he continued to recount his past. Ice stayed silent, kind of understanding why.

    ¡°___I served as an all-around page for the senior officers during most of my time as a military cadet. I ran around doing errands for those guys practically all day every day.¡± Ibex continued, his expression turning even more awkward.

    ¡°___Just as I thought it couldn¡¯t get any worse, our country went to war. I was also sent to the front lines, and because of some faulty intel, our convoy got ambushed and well¡­ I died.¡± Ibex finished.

    ¡°Wow¡­ That¡¯s some past you got.¡± Ice exclaimed in amazement.

    ¡°___I know right.¡± Ibex nodded in agreement.

    ¡°But that still doesn¡¯t tell me anything.¡± Ice complained.

    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    ¡°___Ahaha. Like I said, I was getting to that.¡± Ibex replied with a stiff smile.

    ¡°___I was reborn here in El Fabula as a child of one of the high chieftains of the Silverhorn clan in the northern mountain ranges of the Valis continent. As I was growing up, I noticed that my overall stats were quite a bit higher than the rest of the village kids even as a normal ¡®Unit¡¯.

    My father Ramus, noticed this and saw my potential. He sent me to train under an acquaintance from the organization you know now as the CQMA.¡± Ibex continued on explaining.

    ¡°___After some time, I was revealed to be the possessor of an Exclusive Class.¡±

    ¡°Exclusive Class?!¡±

    Ice¡¯s expression turned to shock once more. It seems they were finally getting to the heart of the matter.

    ¡°___Yeah. I got a Class called ¡ïFrigid Lord. It was a warrior type Class that specialized in offense and had balanced defense and agility. But the real kicker was that I could execute ice elemental attacks with the use of EP instead of MP and without the assistance of an element buff. Which was great cause I got plenty of it.

    As I rose in Class and level, the skills got more powerful. I could inflict the Frozen state with almost 100% probability with opponents that didn¡¯t wear equipment that provided resistance or had them naturally from the start. I also had Skills that broke down defense. Then I just hacked them to death with my weapon.

    I had great AOE crowd control Skills too. My attacks were really powerful since I used heavy weapons like war axes or large broadswords.

    My defense wasn¡¯t too bad as well, since I could equip most heavy armor types, barring full plate mails and other full body armor types. My agility was fine too. I wasn¡¯t as fast as your average light warrior type, but I wasn¡¯t all that slow either. It was amazing.¡±?

    Ibex¡¯s expression visibly brightened as he recounted his exploits as a reincarnated human in El Fabula.

    ¡°That sounds kind of¡­ broken.¡± Ice exclaimed while feeling a bit jealous. (Just a bit though. No, really¡­)

    ¡°___Haha. It gets better. I decided I was fed up with playing the underdog, so I set about making a name for myself as an adventurer. I made countless exploits and was an absolute idol in my home town. In the end, I kind of decided to found an empire. Y¡¯know, just cause.¡±??

    ¡°Eh?¡±

    Ice got even more surprised. The story was quickly turning into something incredulous.

    ¡°___I lorded over my newly founded empire with absolute authority. I¡¯d like to think I was a just enough ruler, although I do admit I had some faults. My women constantly egged me about them every chance they got.¡±?

    ¡°Women? As in plural?¡± Ice asked.

    ¡°___Yeah. A harem¡¯s pretty common for persons of power over here. It¡¯s just how things are kid. So you don¡¯t have to hold back y¡¯know.¡± Ibex replied matter-of-factly.

    ¡°___This really IS an otakus wet dream. An OP MC, reincarnation and even a harem¡­ Oh boy¡­ I wonder if the rest of my summons would have back stories like this too?¡± Ice thought as he smiled bitterly.

    ¡°You sounded pretty set Ibex. But, if you were so powerful, how¡¯d you die?¡± he asked, perplexed.

    ¡°___Uh, yeah¡­ It was a plot. I got done in¡­ by assassination¡­¡±??

    Ibex looked away awkwardly as he replied.

    ¡°Must have been a pretty powerful assassin.¡±?

    ¡°___Ahaha. Yeah. She was pretty skilled alright.¡±??

    ¡°She? A woman?¡±?

    Ice¡¯s eyebrows knitted up as he stared accusingly at Ibex.

    ¡°¡­¡±?

    Ibex stayed silent and continued to look away with an awkward expression. But as the saying goes: Silence is the admission of guilt.?

    ***

    Ice decided to cut Ibex some slack and changed the topic of the discussion.

    "So you were an Exclusive Class, and you were pretty strong to boot. But you got done in regardless. So how would this connect with my situation? Unless..."

    "___Hehe. Have you realized yet?"

    Ibex smirked as he prodded Ice for his conclusions.

    "You''ve all gone through this before haven''t you? You and the rest of the summons. My predecessors as well." Ice exclaimed.

    "___Hehe, pretty sharp kid. That''s right. We''ve already gone through all this stuff after becoming the guardians of the first ¡ïSummoner." Ibex confirmed.

    "And your goal was..."

    "___To find out the truth. All the guardians came from other worlds through reincarnating, and all of us found unceremonious deaths. Instead of passing on, we just floated around in an empty hell without ever finding out why all this happened to us in the first place. You can''t imagine the utter frustration and despair we''ve all felt.

    When your predecessor came and made a covenant with us, we grabbed the opportunity straight away. We wanted to find answers. Even if they would prove to not be the kind of answers we sought. And maybe it would also result in us finally getting our peace. And yet..."

    Ibex made a frustrated expression and fell silent.

    "And yet what? Don''t tell me..."

    "___Right. We never found them. Answers I mean. Each time we got close, we were thwarted by situations that lead to the deaths of the ¡ïSummoners that allied with us. It''s been like that ever since. Some of us have already given up hope as a result.

    This is why I didn''t want to discuss this with you just yet. The odds of success are incredibly low. And conversely, the odds of you dying are way up there. It would be understandable if you lost your nerve."

    "And yet you discussed it with me anyway..."

    "___Yes. Because this is the first time I''ve encountered such a one sided situation this early. Like it was done to insure you would definitely be eliminated."

    Ice grew silent and pondered the implications of Ibex''s reason for revealing things to him this early. He looked at Ibex with a determined expression.

    "So the odds are especially stacked against me. And yet you did all you could to keep me alive. And you''ve revealed all this to me... What are you expecting from me Ibex?"

    "___I don''t have a concrete basis, but I have this gut feeling things would be different this time. And I don''t have anything to lose anyway. I''ve decided to make a gamble on you kid."

    "A gamble huh..."

    Ice grew silent once more.

    "Fine. I don''t see any other way out of this other than struggling with all I have anyway. From what you told me earlier, it seems someone or something is toying with our fates somehow. I really don''t like that notion."

    Ice narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth.

    "Let''s do this. Let''s show whatever it is out there how tenacious we can be."

    Ice stated his convictions clearly. Ibex made a genuinely relieved expression.

    "___It seems it wasn''t a mistake to bet on you after all. But how can you be so determined even after all that? I wouldn''t really be surprised if you showed any hesitation or fear. We''re talking about a real possibility of death here after all."

    Ice pondered Ibex''s question for a moment.

    Why was it that he felt no hesitation or fear right now? In his heart, he already knew the answer.

    "Because there is something I''m afraid of more than death."

    It was a cliche answer. He''d heard it from countless characters in many of the fictional stories he''d read and watched. But right now, it wasn''t just empty words. He really did resonate with it quite well.

    "___If I end up not accomplishing anything this time, then that really would be the same as dying." Ice thought.

    He feared dying uselessly more than anything. If he cowered and stopped moving forward because of this, then he felt that would be as good as dying. If his fate was to ultimately die, then he¡¯d do so only after making sure he could shout out ¡®How was that world?!¡± from the top of his lungs proudly.

    He¡¯d go out with a bang.

    That¡¯s why he clung stubbornly to life earlier. He felt he hadn¡¯t reached anything yet. That he hadn¡¯t brought out all he had. So he would survive. Survive until he proved his worth. Survive until he¡¯s sure he¡¯d emptied absolutely all of himself and faced the world head on.

    If that would ultimately amount to nothing in the end, then at least he¡¯d be satisfied. At least he wouldn¡¯t feel empty. At least he wouldn¡¯t feel that he gave up half way.

    It is said that dreams are given up when one reaches a certain age. That dreams are only for children who had yet to be mired in the filth of reality. But there would still be idiots that ignored this fact of life and went on proudly even if they knew they would ultimately be thoroughly worn out in the end.

    Ice was currently in the process of becoming one of those idiots - Whether or not he¡¯d regret this decision later on, only time will tell.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be counting on you then¡­ partner.¡±

    ¡°___You got it kid.¡±

    The pair looked at each other with eyes that burned with resolve.

    ***

    Two figures loom inside a stark gray room with limited furnishings. Several holographic windows lined up above their heads and were streaming a continuous flow of data.

    ¡°Regular report on Case H-42, subject item AD#105-2 Zeta.¡±

    ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°Contingency protocol Z-10 has failed. Initiated contingency protocol Z-14 but recent reports lead us to believe it has failed as well.

    It is possible that the injected foreign Unit has already been recognized and fully integrated into the ¡®Lore¡¯.

    If so, then erasing it without the proper procedures would result in another forced Lock Out.

    We have made contact with the local Operations Overseer and had instructed to refrain from further action until adequate data has been gleaned.¡±

    ¡°We may be forced to initiate another Code ¦¸ if this continues.¡±

    ¡°It seems ¡®he¡¯ has made a move once more.¡±

    ¡°But reports said that we have dealt with all the planted ¡®Sleepers¡¯.

    ¡°We had. There remain no traces in any of the ADs. We have been thorough.¡±

    ¡°Then HOW?!¡±

    ¡°¡­Excuse me for sounding out of line but¡­ there is a possibility of a traitor in our midst.¡±

    ¡°¡­A traitor.¡±

    The figure that seemed to sit upon empty air pondered for a moment.

    ¡°I will consider the possibility. We have been careful in cleaning our ranks. But it seems it had not been enough. Then again, as expected of ¡®him¡¯.¡±

    ¡°I will continue to monitor the situation.¡±

    ¡°Yes, please do. Make sure to update me on any developments.¡±

    ¡°Acknowledged.¡±

    -Chapter 12 End-

 Chapter 13: Machinations

    Two figures clad in gray robes lurked in an alleyway within a town. On their chests hung necklaces that resembled the CQMA symbol, but they were colored crimson and adorned with crossed weapons ¨C a sword and a scythe. The necklaces were carefully concealed under their clothing.

    ¡°What is the praetor thinking?! Why did he order us to stand down? The ¡®Impurity¡¯ continues to linger and may be affecting the balance of the world as we speak. No matter what the reason, letting it roam free will only do more harm.¡±

    ¡°Still brother, it is an order. We can only but comply. There may be a good reason why they have instructed us as such. We are but humble servants. We cannot fathom the will of the Transcendent.¡±

    One figure nodded grudgingly, but he did not accent in his heart.

    ¡°___The praetor is making a big mistake. As his servant, it is also my duty to make appropriate measures in his stead if he errs in his judgment.

    Surely, the will of the Transcendent will accede to my actions. Everything I do is for the good of the world in which they had descended upon and loved dearly.

    I will not stay silent and watch as the world is plunged in peril!¡±

    He had retreated from the alley and in his mind, began formulating a plan of action for dealing with the Impurity he despised.

    ***

    Dawn was slowly approaching.

    Mornings in the northern part of Ricksvale were typically accompanied by mist, especially at this time of the year. The capital was situated in a valley between two extensive mountain ranges separated by the Alnuss river, true to the country''s name. And so, the mist was also influenced by the topography.

    This morning''s was especially dense. And yet two shadows raced past the buildings, running throughout the castle town like it was an obstacle course.

    It was Ice and Ibex doing their regular morning training.

    They had obtained permission from the castle and had started doing this routine primarily to enhance their chances for a successful escape.

    Ibex had suggested that since they were sure to encounter many perilous events in the course of their search for truth, and that not all of them could be faced head on, training in ways to improve proficiency in ''strategic retreat'' was necessary.

    Ice remembered the encounter with the boss monster and Ibex''s amazing movement speed at the time. His ability to traverse the terrain was exceptional. Ice wanted to gain similar proficiency in agile movement through rough, uneven terrain littered with countless obstacles, and so this training method was born.

    He had actually been inspired by Temple Run and Prince of Persia as well.

    3D movement! (In a 2D world?!)

    Being able to weave, vault over and run through any obstacle and use all objects in one''s immediate surroundings as launch points and footholds to get from point A to point B in the most direct route possible.

    Ice had wanted to try it out ever since he had tested the capabilities of his enhanced adventurer body. Now he''s putting it to practice.

    The mist also helped train Ice''s awareness of his surroundings and decisive decision making. Since vision was limited, he was only able to clearly make out objects ahead of him a few moments before he had to commit to an action such as jumping over obstacles.

    If there was the slightest bit of hesitation, odds are he''d fail to make a jump, grab a ledge or run straight through a wall more often. So he had to determine the best course in practically a split second and follow through in the next.

    Of course, this wasn''t the least bit easy. He''d fallen far too many times than he could count. But since his current body was resilient, the injuries he received were generally minor. He''d broken an few bones here and there and had received cuts, bumps and bruises but these were remedied by using potions.

    He was actually perplexed as to why Sea had insisted in treating his wounds through bandaging and other manual methods if a quick swig from a potion would have made him good as new. But he decided not to dwell on it too much. He had enjoyed Sea''s nursing and fussing over him anyway, so it''s all good.

    On the other hand, he almost cried blood when he bought them in bulk using a large chunk of his savings thus far but had repeatedly told himself it was an investment for the future to lessen the pain.

    He had not told his acquaintances, especially Sea and Thelma (who would probably offer help straight away) because he felt he was already far too indebted to them. He would not refuse help, but he would not seek them either if he was sure he could handle things through his own effort.

    Ice hated the feeling of being spoiled because he believed that there would be times when one could only count on oneself and, if one relied on others too much, then they''d fail if they encountered these situations in the future.

    Learn to act in concert with others and accept good will but do not depend on them for everything. This was one of Ice''s tenets in life.

    ***

    The training also improved overall stamina (he''d obtained more resilience to Fatigue) so it was useful in prolonged encounters and hunts.

    Agility also benefited, but true to Ibex''s earlier words, stat gains from this manual method was hard to come by. But piling things slowly but surely would definitely benefit him over time, so Ice didn''t mind and just continued to put on effort.

    In the end, after countless hours spent training, he was finally awarded with a Skill.

    __________________________________________________________________________________

    Freerunning - Passive - Level 1: [Due to your unrelenting efforts in training to traverse through obstacles freely and efficiently, this Skill is awarded. You will be able to increase your overall efficiency in moving through obstacles and rough terrain. 20% more bonuses will be applied when moving in urban areas or Artificial Structure based dungeons.]

    Agi: +15 / Rct: x1.5%

    Additional Effects:

    Kinetic Vision (Basic) - Will be able to discern surroundings better while in motion. The same applies for moving objects that enter ones line of sight.

    Body Control (Basic) - Will be able to move and position oneself better through an above average sense of weight and balance. Makes it easier to control ones body and center of gravity and apply it in various situations.

    Grip Strength (Basic) - Grip will be enhanced. Will be able to grab onto objects more firmly and securely.

    XP to next Level: 0%

    ___________________________________________________________________________________

    Ice grinned in delight. The Skill was more useful than he thought. And the additional effects were great as well. It seems they could be useful outside of moving efficiently for escape. He could even take advantage of this in battle.

    After all that training, he had only earned one additional point to Agi, but because of the Freerunning Skill, he broke even in the end. The palpable feeling of his efforts being rewarded addicted him even more.

    Ibex was also satisfied. He had now fully accustomed himself to moving again after a long period of inactivity. His superior movement sense was becoming more pronounced. He had trouble with smooth, flat surfaces but made up for it through improvisation, quick reactions and Ice''s help. Elevated terrain was his forte and this training has polished it even more.

    ***

    They had been training like this for several days. Ice also practiced weapon handling and basic strength training as Ibex had advised.

    In El Fabula, even though Stats are an important indicator of overall prowess, they did not make up the big picture. Training ones body and mind as well as polishing ones Skills and abilities will dramatically improve ones performance. Building up ones foundations will be a lot more beneficial than just blindly raising stats.

    This is because stats, though at first seeming absolute, are ultimately relative parameters. This is evident in the differences between the overall physical abilities of Ice and Ibex even though some of their current stats are not that far apart.

    That is not to say humans will never be able to have as much potential as other, more physically well built creatures. It is only through building ones foundations enough that the stats will be able to show their full potential, and sometimes, go beyond them.

    Thus, Ice had immersed himself in training. It might have seemed boring and repetitive. But to him, it was a matter of life and death.

    How to swing weapons faster and more efficiently. How to attack with them more effectively. How to deliver more force on blows in hand to hand combat. How to identify the critical points in an opponents body. He had greedily devoured such knowledge both with his head through studying and experiencing it directly through physical training and sparring.

    He had begged the Sibylwind knight squad to let him join their training. Sea and Rosseane readily approved. Sea and Ice were actually supposed to come straight back to Maleena after the Class Change test. But Ice had insisted on staying in order to train.

    Sea also insisted on staying after seeing princess Thelma dutifully bringing Ice food and refreshments during his training sessions. They exuded an air of quiet rivalry.

    The rest of the knights were not that accommodating at first, giving Ice a generally hard time. Jealousy was a truly ugly thing after all.

    But seeing him work genuinely hard without any complaint mellowed them out a bit. Now they were earnestly competing with him for the women''s attention, though it didn''t seem to have much effect.

    Meanwhile, Ibex was completely content with playing mascot as he frolicked with the female knights and apprentices with an innocent air. His thoughts were anything but innocent though.

    "___That horny bastard..." Ice thought as he watched Ibex enjoy brushing his snout past the smooth, bare thighs of the women as he played around with them during their breaks.

    It was completely legal though. After all, Ibex was a goat. And an adorable one at that (according to Sea). Ice was already beginning to doubt his sense of aesthetics.

    Some of the other males in the training ground were jealous of Ibex as well.

    "I also wanna be a goat." was the general consensus as they looked on with longing expressions on their faces.

    Ibex was thinking differently.

    "___Damn... If my guardian form was that of a dog, then I could have licked them instead!..."

    The grass was truly greener on then other side.

    ***

    Ice couldn''t really admonish Ibex carelessly because of one particular factor: the Affinity bar.

    He checked it out earlier and it had shot up from 61% to 82% in one go, probably because of their earlier discussion. He really wanted to fill it to 100% just to find out if there would be some bonus effects apart from being able to use the current achieved level of Ibex''s Skills as Extra Skills.

    Ibex was particularly guarded when it comes to discussing how to raise his Affinity bar.

    "___You just have to impress me enough kid. Wahahahaha!" was his usual answer.

    Ice had actually likened the mechanic as similar to those dating sims he played back on Earth.

    "___So I gotta go do a [1]Keima and capture my summons hearts. And my first possible conquest happens to be a perverted male mountain goat..." Ice thought bitterly.

    It was a situation where he could only sigh helplessly.

    ***

    "Haah!"

    A pair of swords clashed audibly as two men engaged in an intense spar.

    It was Ice and a solidly built man with hair that was in a peculiar style known commonly on Earth as dreadlocks.

    The man''s name was Sir Killey Mason; a respected veteran and one of the most senior officers in the Sibylwind knight squad.

    Despite his intimidating visage, Sir Killey was a rather friendly and outgoing man. He had once apprenticed himself under Director Roald and retained some of his former master''s playful, boisterous nature.

    He had met Ice after returning from training exercises at the Calder mountain range and had hit it off with him right away after Ice thanked him for taking steps to prevent the other knights from ganging up on Ice out of jealous rage. Ice was now learning the basics of swordfighting from him.

    "Don''t try to match me blow for blow. We have a decisive difference in size and power, so try to overcome me through other means. Anticipate my blows, parry them and initiate a counter.

    If you cannot be an unyielding oak, then try to be a graceful willow. Use your natural flexibility to you''re advantage to disperse the power of my slashes." Sir Killey adviced as he continued to spar with Ice.

    Ice took in all these points and tried his best to implement them. Slowly but surely, he was getting used to sword handling.

    One might wonder why Ice was now training with swords when his primary weapon in most of his time as an adventurer so far was daggers.

    The reason was that he had wanted to familiarize himself with different weapon types. Since there was no equipment restriction for non-Class locked weapons, Ice was trying to learn all that he can about them in order to be able to use a variety of weapons to his advantage during hunting or fighting with other adventurers.

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    Since he had no weapon proficiency Skills unlike in proper combat Classes, he was less inclined to favor using a specific weapon at the moment.

    He''d undoubtedly discover a wide variety of weapons when he starts exploring El Fabula in earnest. So he wanted to be able to effectively use any he could find. Even without proper Skills, a powerful weapon was still a powerful weapon, and so Ice trained in order to raise his expertise to take advantage of this fact.

    After all, one of the only ways he could actually increase his potential damage right now was by equipping powerful weapons. It would certainly be a huge waste if he found an equipable weapon with satisfactory damage yet wasn''t familiar with using it.

    Sir Killey was his one handed sword instructor, Sea was daggers, Rosseane was piercing swords like the Estoc, Sasha was two handed swords and war axes and Evann was maces and shields.

    He also wanted to learn archery but the one who was proficient in it wasn''t present at the moment as he was in another knight squad and they were currently away patrolling the borders. He still studied the basics, though Sea advised him to find a proper instructor if he could in the future.

    Sasha''s adorable gestures as she swung around a huge, albeit blunted (and still quite lethal) battle axe made a lot of impact. It was truly a great example of [2]gap moe. Ice had to be vigilant though, or he faced the very real possibility of being cleaved to death.

    Rosseane''s lessons were easy to follow and understand. In contrast, Evann taught him with close to zero enthusiasm. He simply demonstrated the movements once or twice, then took breaks afterwards, leaving Ice to figure it all out himself.

    Sea''s lessons were, of course, quite enjoyable for the both of them. They laughed as they remembered about Ice''s earlier training with Sea back when he was just an Initiate. If it weren''t for the prolific gazes filled with mixed emotions that were constantly shot their way, Ice would''ve enjoyed it more.

    And Sir Killey''s was the most informative. He fit the template of mentor to a tee. He was patient with him, yet also strict. Ice felt it was a privilege sparring with a man of Sir Killey''s caliber.

    Training went on for Ice at a steady pace.

    ***

    Ice poured fresh, cool water on himself drawn from the well beside him within the castle premises after a day of rigorous training. Ibex approached him with a bemused expression.

    "___Looks like you managed to gain some fans kid." he quipped mischievously as he gestured to the nearby walls.

    Several gazes peeked at the two of them, though they quickly withdrew after Ice turned his attention towards the walls. A familiar looking ahoge and a frilly royal gown were among the things that briefly entered his vision. But they quickly disappeared along with soft laughter from beyond the walls.

    "..."

    Ice felt mixed emotions from all the attention. He couldn''t help but think about how different his current appearance was from how he looked like back on Earth. Somehow, it felt like cheating.

    He also couldn''t help but doubt if he''d receive as much attention if he still looked like that in El Fabula, though he did have difficulty imagining how his former appearance will look if rendered in 2D animation.

    He shook away his current thoughts. It wasn''t good to dwell on negative stuff.

    "They might''ve been looking at you instead you know." he joked.

    "___I wouldn''t be surprised, given how awesome I look." Ibex retorted as he played along.

    They shared a quiet laugh.

    "___You''ve certainly been working hard kid." Ibex remarked.

    "It''s the only way I''d feel calm otherwise. I know myself well enough. I''m overly cautious at times, yet I''m also overly careless as well. There might be things I overlook, and it might bite me back hard. I''m counting on you for those times."

    "___Ahaha. Sure thing kid. I''ll be counting on you as well."

    Ibex narrowed his eyes and made a serious expression.

    "___It''s been overly quiet recently don''t you think?" he remarked, expressing his concern.

    "Well, we haven''t gone to hunt outside yet ever since that time after all. Maybe they can''t get to us as easily if we remained in the city." Ice replied.

    "___Still, it won''t do to let our guard down. There have been instances in the past where we were attacked inside towns and settlements too."

    "Yeah. I''ve already upgraded my equipment as much as I could. I''ve also purchased the scrolls you recommended. Thanks to that, I''m now dead broke." Ice remarked with a wry grin.

    They''ve also extensively discussed about the encounter with the Edgeback earlier on.

    Ibex had been hit with a Slow spell, dulling his movements and allowing the monster to catch up. Ice had purchased Dispel scrolls to prepare for such situations.

    They also talked about the reason why the teleport stone didn''t function at the time.

    "___It''s most likely through a banned item. A Dungeon Lock scroll. It nullifies items that are used to escape dungeons or warp directly to a transport point from an area.

    It was used to apprehend criminals but have also been abused to perpetrate criminal acts as well. Thus, it''s been banned for use other than by the authorities with proper clearance." Ibex explained.

    "You seem really familiar with it." Ice remarked.

    "___We''ve encountered it several times in the past. Though not this early."

    As for the appearance of an Area Boss in a place other than its specific spawning point, investigation by the Ricksvale authorities revealed it to have been caused by a boss generating item - Obsydian Beasts Claw.

    There are several kinds of these rare items that spawn different types of bosses when used. This is potentially dangerous when used irresponsibly, so adventurers need to apply for a permit from local authorities and use it only on locations approved and specified by the CQMA.

    This only applies when adventurers plan to summon bosses near populated areas. But summoning in out of the way places is also practiced to avoid kill stealing.

    "Any idea who or what could have loosed that over sized bear on our faces?" Ice asked.

    "___No clue at the moment. See, thing is, the people who after us vary every time a new ¡ïSummoner makes a covenant with us. The period for a new ¡ïSummoner to appear is a bit of a long wait. A lot of things would have already changed since the last time we were active. That includes the groups or individuals that are after us."

    "The people after you change?" Ice exclaimed, perplexed.

    "___Yeah. The flow of events weren''t always this overt as well. Though when you analyze things, you''d start to see several suspicious points. For one, how the heck is it that we''re always involved in troublesome events? No, not just involved. We often found ourselves right in the middle of a damn whirlpool of absurdly troublesome things." Ibex ranted, the frustration evident in his voice.

    "Why didn''t you just try to avoid getting involved ?"

    "___Believe me kid, we tried. We really put in quite the effort to remain incognito. We laid low and took care not to be mired in anything that smelled of trouble. But it was futile. We pulled through lots of times, but we always failed in the end. It was as if all our efforts just served as entertainment for who-knows-what. We felt like goddamn clowns!..."

    Ibex gritted his teeth and snarled in anger. Ice couldn''t begin to imagine how his predecessors must have felt after all that.

    "___It''s like the curse of being a story''s protagonist..." Ice thought.

    And a tragic protagonist at that! Going through all sorts of ordeals only to fail in the end each and every time. He''d also go mad with frustration if it were him in their shoes.

    Actually, he already was.

    But all he could do right now is inch forward. At the very least, he won''t go down without a fight.

    Ice allowed Ibex to vent some more as he stared towards the sky, wondering what sort of mess he''d get involved with next.

    ***

    A hooded man stood stock still within a small room that seemed devoid of any warmth. A few candles flickered along the walls, yet they did not serve to lighten the stagnant and dreary atmosphere.

    A new cloaked figure appeared from within the shadows wearing a dark violet mask that resembled a raven. A small patch of red along the part that made up the beak seemed to symbolize blood.

    This was the lair of the Bloody Ravens.

    Despite the sinister sounding name and the carefully crafted atmosphere, the group was only a budding Assassins guild that relied more on flashy advertising and gaudy looks to scrounge up clients.

    Besides, Assassins guilds are relatively hard to create, develop and maintain. This is because this was a business built on trust. It would make sense that big prey was rarely ever entrusted to a new guild with shaky credentials.

    This is why novice Assassins would rather work on their skills and achievements as they tried to appeal to larger, more established guilds for more stable prospects.

    The Bloody Ravens were different though. They had sworn to rise from mediocrity and achieve a towering status among the world of the pros, no matter the difficulty. And now, a suitably grand opportunity has come knocking on their door step.

    The masked figure moved closer to the center of the room where the other hooded figure was and spoke in a raspy (and slightly over dramatic) male voice.

    "The brotherhood has accepted your commission. We shall begin scouting out the target soon. We have also confirmed the specified payment and found it satisfactory."

    The hooded man nodded slightly in acknowledgement.

    "I expect good news guild master. I''ve spent quite a pretty penny hiring you and your men after all."

    "Rest assured. The target will be eliminated without fail."

    The men once again nodded to each other and vanished within the shadows.

    ***

    "With this, everything is set."

    The hooded man weaved through the back alleys of a town with light, quickened strides.

    Steps for taking out what he deemed to be an unforgivable ''Impurity'' were underway, making his mood quite refreshed.

    Methods that were not sanctioned by the praetor and the inquisitorial council were generally not permitted as means to eliminate said ''Impurities''.

    But he was willing to risk it, with a firm conviction that the end justified the means.

    "The will of the Trancendent shall surely overlook this. After all, I did this for the greater good of the world." he thought as if justifying himself.

    The reason why he choose such an obscure guild in order to commission a hit was simple: It would be easier for him to cut them off and deny any involvement considering their credebility.

    The target wasn''t all that high a level after all. And he''d been holing up inside the Ricksvale capital city ever since they used the boss monster to try and eliminate him.

    The average level of the Bloody Ravens members was within the 30-40 range. Given their superior numbers, it should be enough to bring the target down.

    The man smiled in satisfaction as he weaved through the crowd.

    -Chapter 13 End-

    *Note

    Assassins guilds aren''t really exclusively for Assassin Classes. As long as one doesn''t have qualms with killing people for money and wants to make a living out of it, then they''re welcome to apply.

    There are all kinds who join these types of guilds: Alchemists who brew and use poisons, Dancers who use their charms to seduce the targets, Mages who use magic to kill etc.

    There are some who do it for fame or sport in addition to monetary benefits. Most of these types are prestigious guilds who get commissioned high profile and highly confidential targets.

    Most who hire these types are pretty influencial personages, including various nation''s officials and rulers.

    The non-Class exclusive rule also applies to knight squads and mercenary bands. The Sibylwind knights are also composed of diverse Classes. The armor sets they wear aren''t Class locked and were made exclusively for them by the royal armory. They were also customized to fit each individuals particular Class and fighting style.

    [1] Keima Katsuragi (¹ðÄ¾ ¹ðñR Katsuragi Keima?), a 17-year-old high school student at Maijima Academy, is known on the Internet and in gaming circles as The Capturing God (Âä¤È¤·Éñ Otoshi-gami) because of his exceptional skills and experience in "capturing" (winning over) virtual girls in dating sims and gal games (galge) (¥®¥ã¥ë¥²©`¥à gyaru g¨¥mu).

    *quoted from Wikipedia

    [2] Gap Moe - is when a character does something completely contradictory to what their usual habits/personality/character/appearance dictates.

 Chapter 14: Underlying Faces

    "Excuse me fellows. Is the man called Ice here? I''d like to speak with him for a moment."

    A dignified looking young man was standing near the entrance of the training grounds complete with tough faced guards on either side of him. He was looking around the place, searching for Ice.

    He was the son of the prince reagent and apparent heir to the throne, prince Ricard Falwynd Ricksvale.

    The knights looked at each other with questioning gazes. They were curious about the reason for the sudden visit.

    ***

    "Eh?! Prince Ricard is looking for me? Whatever for?" Ice inquired in a slightly high pitched tone.

    The page shook his head and told him he also had no idea and he just came to get Ice.

    Ice scratched his head, perplexed. He decided to just meet with the prince to find out what this was all about.

    He sincerely hoped it wasn''t something ridiculous like prince Ricard actually being a Siscon and him being challenged to a duel for Thelma''s affection or anything to that effect.

    ***

    "So you''re Ice huh? Not bad. And it seems you train with the knights on a regular basis as well. Above average looks and the sincere hard working type huh... No wonder sis has a crush on you."

    Prince Ricard went over and suddenly started to scrutinize Ice as soon as he showed up. They were currently within the receiving area of the prince''s private quarters. There didn''t seem to be any apparent hostility coming from him.

    His guards were another story though. They had ''Make one stupid move and you''re dead.'' faces on them. Ice got goosebumps from their fierce gazes. Prince Ricard continued to check him out nonchalantly, not noticing the strained atmosphere at all.

    "Um... forgive me if this sounds rude your highness, but... uh... what exactly did you want to meet me for?" Ice asked.

    "Huh? Oh yes, of course. I was just curious about what kind of man made my tomboy of a sister suddenly act all girly so I checked you out a bit. But that''s not really why I wanted to meet you."

    Prince Ricard moved his gaze towards his guards and gestured for them to leave their posts. They weren''t pleased with the idea and attempted to protest.

    "Right now, I need to speak with this man in private. He''s my sister''s benefactor so there''s no cause for concern. Anyway, just step outside for a bit. We won''t take long."

    The prince Ricard was adamant and grandly stared the guards down. He really did fit the image of a proud noble. Eventually, the guards were forced to capitulate on the condition that they be allowed to wait just outside the room. Prince Ricard agreed but warned them not to eavesdrop and the matter was settled.

    After the guards left, prince Ricard turned his attention to Ice once more with a resolute gaze.

    "So then, what is it you want from me your highness?" Ice inquired; his curiosity piqued.

    "Mm. I''ll make this brief. I am given to believe that you''ve stayed with the Seyramour family for a time before you came here."

    Ice nodded in the affirmative.

    "Hm. Then you have already come to know of the members of captain Seyramours family, including her siblings, correct?" prince Ricard inquired further.

    "Yes. I''ve met her parents and both her siblings."

    "Mm. Then you''ve already met Ein and miss Veenah... Hmm..."

    Prince Ricard grew silent for a short while. He then gave Ice a look filled with burning determination and placed an object on Ice''s palm.

    "Eh?"

    Ice was surprised and looked at the object given to him. It was a small, hexagonal contraption with a clear crystal imbedded in its center.

    "It''s a portable mana-vision camera that also takes still shots." prince Ricard explained.

    "Uhuh..."

    Ice was confused further.

    "Uh, well... this is nice and all but... what exactly am I supposed to do with this your highness?" he asked in increasing bewilderment.

    "You see mister Ice... I have dear wish I want to fulfill... And you might be the key to finally getting that wish to come true." prince Ricard replied in a solemn tone.

    "And what is this wish of yours your highness?"

    "Mm... My dream... is to finally complete my collection. To get that final elusive shot...

    OF MISS VEENAH BATHING NAKED IN A HOT SPRING!!! (preferably with decent steam effects)."

    Ice instantly froze over while sporting a blank look. The prince didn''t notice at all and continued explaining in a riled up tone.

    "I have painstakingly gathered shots of the wonderful Miss Veenah from almost all possible angles in almost all possible backgrounds in a wide variety of poses, expressions and outfits. Yet only this hot spring shot eludes me.

    Yes, it eludes me to no end. I have even enlisted the aid of my good friend, Ein Seyaramour. But even he found it difficult to breach the nearly impregnable defenses of the Maleena hot springs.

    But then, hope dawned upon me. Reliable sources have reported that you have actually succeeded in infiltrating that sacred sanctum.

    You may have not succeeded in gazing upon paradise due to unforseen circumstances. Yet you did not give up and burst into the room of the famous Lady Melva Hollcroft and have attained the reward of being sandwiched within her bountiful bossom!

    Such bravery! Such tenacity! Thus, I have judged that you are the most suitable person to entrust my hopes and dreams to. There can be no one but you!"

    Prince Ricard panted heavily after his impassioned speech and looked upon Ice with a face filled with hope and heartfelt admiration. Ice was at a loss about how to react.

    "W-Why steam effects?"

    That wasn''t what he wanted to ask. But Ice had already been taken by the increasingly weird atmosphere, and thus, his thought processes have currently slowed down to a crawl.

    "Hm? Oh, well that''s because of personal taste. I believe that scene would be more profound (and titillating) than just bare skin. It''s art mister Ice. Capturing the beauty and grandness of creation!"

    Ice could only mechanically nod.

    "Great! Then I shall leave that camera with you. I pray for your success mister Ice. If you succeed in doing this for me, then I shall consider you a lifelong friend and soul brother.

    I am also not in a hurry. Take your time and take the perfect shot. I''m counting on you."

    Ice was ultimately unable to get a word in edgewise and later on, worried about the prince''s request to no end.

    ***

    "___Bahahahaha! That prince Ricard sure was a piece of work eh kid? I like him."

    Ibex laughed unsparingly after the meeting with the prince. He remained beside Ice the entire time but stayed still on the floor during the whole thing. But Ice was aware of his constant snickering after the prince opened the topic of stealth photography.

    "___Just how beautiful is that young lady that a prince of a country got so taken with her and became a full blown stalker?" Ibex remarked in a bemused tone.

    Ice thought back to his time with the Seyramours and found himself understanding the prince a bit. Sea''s older sister Veenah truly was beautiful. In fact, the entire family had looks that could kill. As expected of the high spec family.

    But becoming a fully fledged peeping tom and taking candid photos of her bathing was out of the question.

    "___But maybe I can pull it off during next year''s event..."

    Ice shook his head frantically as he forced himself to extinguish the thought.

    "___Gehehe. Miss Sea is already such a looker. I imagine her older sister will be quite a gorgeous woman as well. What do you say with entrusting that request to me?" Ibex exclaimed in a teasing manner.

    "How the heck are you even going to do that? You got no arms." Ice retorted.

    "When there''s a will, there''s a way!" Ibex replied with absolute conviction.

    Ice could only shrug in exasperation and sigh.

    He had missed the opportunity to refuse due to the prince''s sincere gaze. But he really had to turn him down properly later on.

    It would be hard to imagine what Mr. Alphonse would do if he ever found out. Ice still valued his life after all.

    ***

    The pair walked along among the crowd in the central plaza of the city. They were headed towards the direction of the north gate, finally deciding to hunt in earnest after weeks spent training. They couldn''t stay holed up in the city forever after all.

    Ice had checked all of his equipment and items and put them in order. He felt that they did all they could for the time being and surviving from here on out depends on their tenacity, determination and luck. Unfortunately, Ice hasn''t invested on Luk yet. But one can''t expect everything to be perfect from the get go.

    "___Now kid, the moment we encounter a hopeless situation, retreat immediately. Don''t throw your life away. We could always go for a revenge match, but you can''t do jack if you''re dead." Ibex reminded. Ice promptly nodded.

    "I know. I need to polish my sense of danger more. I want to be able to properly judge the level of risk involved in a situation and act accordingly. I''m still fairly new to this stuff so I''m counting on you to cover for my shortcomings."

    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    "___I know kid. Leave it to me." Ibex assured Ice.

    They were now beside the central fountains. Suddenly, something caught Ibex''s attention and as he turned to warn Ice...

    "?!"

    Ice immediately halted his steps. Something entered the periphery of his vision. It was headed straight for him. He hurriedly sidestepped to dodge the incoming object. It struck the ground with surprising force moments later.

    It was a small crossbow bolt. The Kinetic Vision ability the Freerunning Skill granted had proven its worth. Ice thought he wouldn''t have spotted the bolt as easily as he did without it.

    Purple liquid burst out from the tip and stained the ground. Ice didn''t know if it would be this obvious on Earth, but in an anime-like world, suspicious colored liquid that seeped out of a long, pointed object (Weapons of course. Get your minds out of the gutter.) had a high chance of being poison.

    Ice raised his alertness to the max and surveyed his surroundings. Ibex scanned for threats as well. They kept moving towards the crowd in order not to give the assailants another clear shot.

    But despite this, another bolt flew from a different direction and barely whizzed past them. An unfortunate bystander started writhing in pain and collapsed on the ground after being hit. The surrounding people were instantly thrown into a panic.

    "What the hell?! They don''t even care about involving other people huh." Ice exclaimed and gritted his teeth in anger.

    "___It seems that way. What now? We could keep using people as shields to avoid attacks..."

    "That could work. But I''m not that rotten. At least not yet. For now... RUN!"

    The pair rushed out of the fountain area and went deeper into the city streets.

    ***

    Ice and Ibex continued to run through the maze like passages of the cityscape. They have all but memorized the layout of the place and traversed it with ease even without consulting the minimap.

    They couldn''t fully shake off the attackers at first though. It seems they have also scouted and mapped the place considerably so escaping from their pursuit wasn''t easy.

    They couldn''t split up either since Ibex had limited range. If he ends up separated from Ice for a prolonged period, it would result in forced recall. Since the Skill cool down was 20 minutes, Ice would end up without any back up for a while.

    They finally lost their pursuers after much effort. Ice used the lull in the action to drink some potions and recover his HP. The poison wasn''t debilitating and only decreased his HP by 5 per second so it didn''t bother him much. Quick use of an antidote solved the annoyance fairly easily.

    It only had that much effect on the person that was hit earlier because he had been a Unit. Ice could only hope he had been treated on time, since a couple of adventurers were also present at the scene.

    The poison wasn''t a big deal. But the accumulated damage from the crossbow bolts wasn''t anything to scoff at. Crossbows tended to have lower damage and overall range compared to bows. And Ice had considerable defense for his level due to his equipment.

    But seeing as the bolts shaved off about 15-30% of his HP every hit, Ice was convinced he was dealing with people who outleveled him by at least 10 to 20. And that was trouble.

    He grimaced in frustration. He had avoided a majority of the bolts by effectively using cover, but more and more people kept popping up unexpectedly and got a few shots in on him. They had now identified at least ten pursuers. And there was no telling how many they actually were.

    "Dammit! What''s taking the authorities so long?!..."

    Ice gritted his teeth as he looked through the gap in the wall of the building they were currently hiding in. Ibex stayed silent but threw Ice a critical gaze.

    "___Kid..."

    "What?!"

    "___We can''t hold out like this. Not if we remain passive. You know that."

    "Tch..."

    Ice bit his lip, drawing blood. They had shaken off their assailants but it was only a matter of time until they were found. But despite this, he had not made an initiative to retaliate.

    He was actually buying time. He was counting on the city guards and knight squads to respond to the earlier commotion and rush to the scene. No matter how numerous their pursuers were, Ice thought they wouldn''t dare take action against Ricksvale''s authorities on their home turf and choose to retreat.

    But the anticipated reinforcements didn''t arrive. At least, not soon enough.

    Ice knew they were headed for disaster if things were left as is. He already knew what Ibex wanted him to do.

    He knew.

    But he was still hesitant. He felt that if he took that first step, then there would be no turning back.

    "___Kid!"

    Ibex confronted Ice and stared at him with a challenging look.

    "___You want to survive right? You want to win against all this absurdity and come back home right? Why the hell are you hesitating then?! I don''t know what kind of values and beliefs you had before coming here. And frankly, I don''t care.

    THIS is your reality right now! And unless you get your act together, you''re as good as dead!"

    Ice was stunned for a moment after Ibex''s admonishment. He closed his eyes and took a long, deep breath to steady his nerves. His eyes shone with resolve the moment he opened them next.

    "You''re right. I''m sorry."

    "___As long as you understand."

    Ice gripped the handle of his weapon - a newly acquired Stiletto - and prepared to counterattack.

    ***

    A group of people stood silently on the roof of a tall building near the city center and observed the growing commotion below with impassive gazes.

    It was the captains of Ricksvale''s knight squads. A hawkish bespectacled man approached the young woman who stood near the edge of the roof and hailed her with a concerned tone.

    "Captain Seyramour... Is this really alright? Letting this situation persist I mean. You know the one who''s being targeted correct? I am given to believe that you quite favor him.

    We''ve all agreed to adhere to your request for the time being. But if this were to go on, that young man will surely die."

    The young woman, Captain Seabelle Seyramour of the Sybilwind knight squad, turned to face the man with a steely gaze.

    "The efforts to deal with the resulting collateral damage and panic is proceeding smoothly correct? Then there''s no more cause for concern Captain Gates. I''ve personally seen to Ice''s training as well. He won''t fall that easily to the likes of these garishly dressed clowns."

    The man, Captain Hartman Gates of the Banefang knight squad, seemed unconvinced.

    "But those are roughly more than twenty assailants. No matter how well trained you claim he is, that young man won''t be able to hold out for long against such numbers, even if it does seem that they are complete amateurs."

    Sea smiled sweetly - a stark contrast from her earlier harsh expression - and replied in a light tone.

    "You misunderstand captain. I don''t intend to leave the situation be for long. I just want Ice to go through a serious life or death encounter with actual people as opponents.

    He needs to go through this in order for him to have a greater chance of surviving as an adventurer and pioneer for the sanctioned explorations to the uncharted lands. Just like he wanted."

    "A pioneer you say?!" Captain Gates exclaimed in surprise.

    "Yup. You should already know just how dangerous and cutthroat that world is. The strong eat the weak. That''s all there is to it really. He needs to harden his resolve in order to live through something like that.

    An opportunity to actually draw blood and kill people like this is also ideal. The attackers are reportedly a newly formed Assassins guild called the Bloody Ravens correct? Even if they''re but second rate novices when it comes to the trade, they should have prepared themselves for the eventuality of death in missions like this. If not then they would be nothing more than trash. so there''s no reason to hold back against them is there? I could not have asked for better opponents to let Ice grow.

    It''s because I like him that I''m doing all this. Do you find my methods unpleasant captain?"

    Sea''s smile was pure and free of any pretense. She truly did feel that way. Which made it all the more striking. Captain Gates could only laugh awkwardly and concede.

    He had already felt it when she first made waves as the youngest to ever attain the right to vie for captain-ship of a knight squad using just absolute and overwhelming strength some years ago. But now, he had confirmed it once again.

    This young woman, Seabelle Seyramour, daughter of the Mad Sword and the Puppeteer of Chaos, was truly extraordinary. And, when left unrestrained, was exceedingly dangerous as well.

    "___This person was actually assigned as the leader of the princess'' personal guard... Honestly... Her abilities may be top notch but... What could his majesty be thinking?..."

    Captain Gates sighed as he watched the ensuing commotion develop with conflicted thoughts.

    -Chapter 14- End

 Chapter 15: First Blood (Part 1)

    Ice and Ibex moved from building to building in haste. They were headed towards the hiding place of one of the people who sniped at them with crossbows earlier.

    "The Trace scrolls really came in handy." Ice remarked with a wry grin.

    "___Just like I told you right? Now we can safely keep track of the positions of those we''ve tagged as long as they don''t use a Trace Off scroll to cancel the effects.

    Honestly, I just can''t believe they''d actually not use such a convenient item themselves. It would have allowed them to lock on to us quite easily. Though we do have Trace Off scrolls ourselves as a countermeasure." Ibex replied and criticized their attackers for not using such an orthodox method.

    He gave Ice a questioning gaze as they moved along.

    "___You sure you''re really up for this kid? I can''t have you hesitating at the eleventh hour."

    Ice nodded resolutely. He had already considered the possibility after the run-in with Nigel in the forest testing grounds. And right now, he had finally been forced to face that possibility head on. He had already decided to see it through to the end.

    They had no chance of surviving if they waited it out in a battle of attrition. The attackers had numbers on their side. They only had to keep harassing them until Ice and Ibex ran out of steam and close in for the finish.

    He had to disrupt their momentum and reduce their advantage in order to increase his chances for survival. That meant slowly reducing the opponent''s numbers.

    He couldn''t just knock them out or immobilize them. Potions and negative status curing items would easily remedy that. He can''t just place hopes on them actually not preparing such items. They could also have someone capable of healing. He had to assume the worst case scenario.

    And that meant one thing...

    He had to kill them.

    ***

    "___Keh! Just look at the damn amateur! Not even the least bit wary of his surroundings. If the rest of them are actually like this idiot, we wouldn''t really have this much trouble if not for their numbers." Ibex spat out, ridiculing the cloaked man crouching on top of a nearby building that they have marked as their first target.

    Even Ice was amazed at how easily they had sneaked up behind the man without raising any alarm. They had not even practiced stealthy movements all that much, so he had expected to at least have a little trouble. But contrary to his expectations, the target remained oblivious to their presence even after closing in to a distance of only a couple meters while remaining hidden behind some cover.

    Not that he was complaining though. The easier things got for them, the better.

    They were initially worried about the situation being a trap. But after confirming the fact that the man was truly caught alone and unawares, Ice and Ibex had finally committed to go through with a sneak attack.

    "___You ready for this kid? Hesitate, even if just a little, and you''re as good as dead y''hear." Ibex warned.

    Ice gripped his Stiletto firmly and narrowed his eyes, sporting a resolute expression. He then opened the Item Menu and took something out.

    The item name read ''Royal Ginseng''. It''s the rare consumable that dropped from the Don Pon-Pon mini-boss Ice had defeated while grinding near Maleena village. It raised ones total HP by 30% and Str by 20 points for 1 hour.

    The individual damage dealing potential and defense of their assailants were still huge unknowns. Since their robes concealed their equipment for the most part, Ice had a hard time even getting a rough estimate.

    That''s why he didn''t want to take any chances. He unhesitatingly took the Royal Ginseng, activating its buff effects.

    He could have saved it for later if and when he was one and truly cornered. But he ultimately decided against it.

    There was no point in being too stingy about putting up safety nets in a situation with so many unknown variables like this one. They would just need to make sure to thin out their opponents numbers effectively. This was to lower the chances of a situation where they would be cornered and overwhelmed from all sides occurring.

    "___Easier said than done." Ice thought as he sported a bitter smile.

    "___Let''s go. We''re on the clock." he told Ibex telepathically.

    Ibex nodded in the affirmative and the two moved in to make their first kill.

    ***

    "?!!!..."

    Death came fairly swiftly for the target. Ice muffled the mans screams by covering the mans mouth with his left hand. He then drove his Stiletto vertically from the side of the mans neck; executing a critical hit and instantly reducing his HP to zero.

    Ice had been worried that his Atk wouldn''t be enough to break through their opponents defense and HP and that he would fail to deliver a fatal blow. But it seems those worries were unfounded for now.

    The man slumped down onto the wooden floorboards, his body slowly turning ash gray, signalling the beginning of the 10 minute count down to permanent death. The blood on Ice''s weapon however, remained bright crimson.

    It still seemed so surreal to him. The smell of iron that permeated his nostrils and the warmth transmitted from the red liquid that now dripped down on the hand that held the Stiletto undoubtedly felt real. But ultimately, it still looked animated.

    Somewhere in Ice''s heart, he still could not reconcile his current perspective of the world with the possibility of injury and death. The game-like interface and mechanics added to the creeping sense of unease.

    Somehow, all of it still didn''t feel ''real'' to him. Though admittedly, this had led to him having less trouble taking certain measures like killing people.

    And that was precisely the problem.

    He was afraid of getting used to it. Even now, after ending the life of one person, Ice surprisingly felt nothing. His breathing was calm and his hands never trembled. The sight of blood even seemed like a joke, considering how it actually looked to him. And this was supposed to be the first time he took a persons life.

    Did he truly treat all of this as nothing but a game?

    "___Kid!" Ibex called out.

    "___This isn''t the time to be brooding. We have to move now! We can''t risk the chance of our position being discovered. Not just yet."

    Ice nodded almost mechanically, shaking off his current thoughts. He followed Ibex towards the location of their next target. A slight buzzing sound was intermittently ringing within his ears. But it did not bother him too much. Unexpectedly, it actually seemed oddly pleasant.

    Before he knew it, Ice had already killed off five more people.

    ***

    After noticing the loss of six comrades, the assassins finally changed their tactics. They had grouped themselves into teams of two or three. They had also positioned themselves in such a way that allowed for the teams to assist each other swiftly in the event of an attack. They were following the trail of bodies and were slowly tightening the noose.

    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Fortunately, there didn''t seem to be anyone capable of revival spells or had revival potions, so the dead had stayed dead. That was a major oversight for sure. But considering the various amateurish mistakes that piled up, Ice and Ibex weren''t all that surprised.

    They were, of course, prepared to launch a swift attack the moment they encountered someone capable of revival or healing in order to eliminate them. But that danger has not yet come to pass - at least, for now.

    Still, the situation hadn''t improved by much. The chase was still on. And it was getting more frantic.

    "___Tch... Things just keep getting more and more troublesome." Ibex complained in annoyance.

    "It''s not like we didn''t expect this much to happen." Ice chimed in. His earlier uneasiness was now driven far in the back of his mind. The rush of a life or death battle and pulsing adrenaline had gradually taken over.

    They were currently leaping from building to building, never remaining in position for too long.

    "___Looks like we need to change things up a bit ourselves kid." Ibex suggested.

    "Yeah. They''ve committed more people to chase after us. We''ve only been going through the safest routes available and eliminating the enemies who are unavoidable but the blockade is slowly tightening up. We have to get away before they completely surround us." Ice replied.

    "___Mm. We need to reach the castle fast. I doubt they''d dare cause trouble anywhere near it, considering the knight garrisons stationed inside. So we need to hurry and launch an attack on the spot where the numbers are thinnest and forcibly break through." Ibex added.

    "I''ve actually been trying to contact Sea, but I''m not getting any reply. Think something happened?"

    As he was about to answer, Ibex suddenly fell silent. He seemed to be lost in thought.

    "What''s wrong?" Ice asked.

    "___No... It''s nothing. Just focus on what''s ahead kid. We''ll get through this yet." Ibex replied.

    It still seemed like he was keeping something. But Ice had let it pass. There was time enough for discussion after they''ve survived through their current ordeal.

    ***

    The sound of weapons clashing rang throughout the air. Ice had set Frost Charge as an Extra Skill and had used it to launch an attack on one of the assassins barring their way towards the castle area. Surprisingly, the one he targeted managed to parry his attack. The assassin still lost 20% of his health, but Ice''s momentum had been broken and he was driven backward in surprise.

    "___Damn! Of all the times to encounter someone who''s actually got some skills..." Ice thought, a hint of worry evident in his expression. Ibex had also cancelled his charge and positioned himself near Ice.

    "___This one looks like trouble kid." Ibex warned.

    "Tell me something I don''t know." Ice quipped while sporting a wry grin. He fixed his stance and readied his weapon once more, preparing to launch another attack. They could not drag things out any longer. The counters for Royal Ginseng''s buff effects were slowly winding down. The other assassins were also catching up. They had no time.

    The assassin gave them a smile filled with malice and signaled for his other two companions to get into position. He wielded a short sword while the other two had a crossbow and mace respectively. They also prepared to take Ice and Ibex down.

    Ice decided to go for the one with the crossbow first since ranged attacks were troublesome. If Ice succeeded in killing him, he and Ibex would break through and head full speed straight towards the castle.

    Each group launched their respective attacks without warning. Ice headed straight for the crossbow wielder. But the other two assassins reacted swiftly and blocked his path.

    Ibex then breathed out a jet of icy cold air towards the face of the mace wielder. He had used Frost Breath to distract him and kicked him out of the way soon afterward.

    Ice had drawn closer to the one sporting a short sword that blocked his attack earlier. When he was only a few paces away, Ice had also unexpectedly used Frost Breath on the assassins face, surprising him and allowing Ice to shove him down from the roof. Direct confrontation with someone like him could prove difficult after all.

    Ice had practiced manipulating his Item and Skill Menus till late in the evening everyday ever since he started training. He wanted to improve his speed in selecting and equipping Items and Skills to a level that allowed for practical usage in live battle. This was the result of that.

    He could now freely select and enable Extra Skills on the fly in mere seconds. Once he acquires more summons (and more Extra Skill selections as a result) he would have to accustom himself to it once more. But right now, it had proved to be truly effective.

    The crossbow wielder was attempting to take some distance as he prepared to fire his weapon. Ice did not give him a chance and did the unexpected: He actually threw his Stiletto at the assassin.

    This was rarely done because it opened up the chance for ones weapon to be taken by the enemy. Any weapon was forcibly unequipped and considered a Drop if one actually decides to throw it aside from the ones designated as Throwing weapons such as certain daggers, axes and boomerangs. Arrows and bolts are treated as Ammunition (Ammo) and are separate Items from a bow or crossbow.

    Normally, a weapon is not able to be taken or separated from the wielder unless Skills like Weapon Steal or Disarm were used. But the act of throwing invalidates this.

    Ice, however, still opted to throw his weapon that hit squarely on the chest of the assassin, effectively stopping his actions for a couple of seconds - just enough for Ice to close in and deliver the finishing blow.

    Before the opponent could recover, Ice had launched himself straight at him and kicked the base of the hilt of the Stiletto embedded in the opponents chest, driving it further into the assassins body.

    The assassins HP was depleted instantly and he fell from the roof as he turned gray. Ice had of course retrieved his weapon before the body fell. Since it was now considered a Drop Item, the dagger disappeared as soon as Ice touched it. The Stiletto was now safely within Ice''s Inventory once more.

    The path was now pried wide open. Ice and Ibex didn''t miss the chance and fled swiftly from the area without looking back, heading straight for Ricksvale castle.

    -Part 1 End-

 *Notice: Im Sorry!

    To all the peeps who actually read the stuff I write: I''m sorry for not being able to update recently. Personal problems keep cropping up and my cheap 2nd hand Lenovo tablet just went to the crapper...

    I''m still continuing writing the chapters by renting on net cafes for the time being. But a regular update may be beyond what I''m currently capable of right now.

    I''m trying to find a cheap laptop to replace the one which broke down. And possibly get myself a new cheap tablet/phoneblet along with it. But finances are tight and there''s trouble with work (my actual day job) so yeah...

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    I will, however continue working on my fics (even if I don''t get too many readers lol). It''s more of a passion on my part and I don''t mind the extra challenge lol^^ It won''t be as fast but I won''t be dropping anything anytime soon.

    I''m actually writing the next chapters on an actual paper notepad then plan to encode them later on when I have the time (and the money to rent a station lol).

    Anyway, I''ll update this soon. Maybe tomorrow if the fates will it. Wish me luck^^

 Chapter 16: First Blood (Part 2)

    Just as they had thought they were home free, Ice was suddenly assaulted with an unfamiliar sinking sensation. His body felt exceptionally heavy and his movements turned sluggish.

    Ice was experiencing the effects of Slow for the first time.

    Ibex had also been hit with the negative status, and that caused them to lose precious seconds while fleeing even when coming prepared with Dispell Scrolls as a countermeasure.

    "Damn!"

    Ice cursed aloud as he frantically used two Scrolls to cancel the effects. They had been caught unawares. Two assassins who were probably Mages with negative status inducing spells came up from their blind side and assaulted them without warning. Just as the pair had feared, more assassins were lurking within the city. These were probably the ones they haven''t yet tagged with the Trace Scroll.

    Still, they couldn''t afford to act too passively since they could only effectively oppose their attackers for a limited time. The Royal Ginseng''s buff was nearly depleted.

    Thus, the pair had gambled in an all or nothing sprint towards Ricksvale castle. But to think that the assassins had Mages within their ranks! And they had Slow as part of their Spell repertoire as well!

    "___Things are really turning ugly for us eh partner?" Ibex quipped with a bitter expression on his face.

    "Can''t do anything about it anyway. Let''s just try to evade as much as we can and head straight for the castle." Ice replied resignedly.

    Fortunately, no other reinforcements seemed to be giving chase. Ice and Ibex had also reduced the number of enemies in the vicinity earlier due to their successful sneak attacks, so the nearest ones who could back up the assassins chasing them were still a ways off, giving them some slight breathing room.

    The pair continued to race away towards the castle grounds while occasionally firing off Frost Breath attacks at the ones on their tail in order to throw them off, if only a little. Getting hit with another Slow would be bad to say the least.

    ***

    They were finally nearing the castle. Just a bit more and they were home free. The pair was banking on the facts that Ice was personally acquainted with Ricksvales princess and that Ice was an Exclusive Class holder to squeeze themselves out of any sanction they might get slapped with after bringing about such a commotion within the castle grounds.

    Even if they couldn''t avoid some form of punishment, it would still be better than dying in the hands of suspicious hooded men.

    The pair quickened their pace.

    "ENOUGH!"

    Just as they were about to enter the road that led straight towards the castle gates, a hooded figure suddenly appeared before them and sent them flying back with sharply thrown kicks. Ice had managed to barely defend using his recently reequipped Stiletto, but his HP still plummeted by 30%. Ibex''s was cut down by more than half.

    "This little game of cats and mice ends now."

    The one who attacked them stood intimidatingly in front of the pair, emitting a considerable amount of killing intent. He wore a purple mask that resembled a raven with a bloody beak and spoke in a harsh yet seemingly overdramatic voice. It kind of resembled a certain Hollywood actor''s tone whenever he reprises the role of a well known nocturnal vigelante superhero.

    Ice and Ibex heightened their caution. This man was probably several levels above the enemies they''ve fought thus far. After all, even his normal kicks have already caused considerable damage.

    "I must admit, I didn''t expect the two of you to endure this much. You''ve even managed to kill some of our lower leveled members.

    Even so, they should have out-leveled you by at least eight to ten. To be able to break through their defenses like that... Your weapon does not seem all too special as well..."

    The masked man grew quiet, seemingly lost in thought. However, it was only for a brief moment. He turned towards the pair once more with renewed interest.

    "Hahaha. Kid, tell me... Just how did you manage to get yourself such a potent Consumable? It should have boosted your stats by quite a bit. I can think of no other reason how you were able to surpass my comrades Def so easily.

    Mages and Alchemists may be one thing. But killing Warriors with just a few attacks... Even if you managed to deliver Critical strikes with every attack, a Warrior''s HP and Def should not have been so easily broken through."

    The 20 point increase in Str was roughly equivalent to about six to seven levels if one only focused on increasing Strength. Thus, landing Crits would have been enough to down the enemies they encountered, provided they didn''t have equipment that provided a large boost to Def.

    Fortunately, the ones they encountered only had leather equipment on, presumably to aid in mobility.

    "Why the hell should I even tell you that? In case you haven''t noticed, you guys are actually trying to kill me. Why the heck do you even want to do me in anyway? I don''t remember pissing anyone off so much, they''d want to get rid of me." Ice retorted.

    The masked man laughed ominously, seemingly amused at Ice''s defiant attitude.

    "I''m sorry kid. This particular occupation stresses the protection of the client''s interests. We can never disclose the clients motives for any request. Of course, we can''t reveal the client''s identity as well.

    The only comfort I can offer you is the promise of a quick and relatively painless death."

    Killing intent once again welled out from the masked man. Ice felt goosebumps crawling all over his skin. He felt like a frog cornered by a snake.

    Ice clicked his tongue in frustration.

    He was actually trying to find an opportunity to break through and escape as they talked.

    He found none.

    Ice felt as though every direction they decide to take will result in them getting cut down.

    "This pressure ain''t no joke." he muttered under his breath.

    "___Try not to get too intimidated. You''re just not used to this much killing intent so the effects on you are more pronounced. Keep your wits about. We can''t just give up. Don''t stop trying to find an opportunity to escape. We''ll live through this yet." Ibex stated encouragingly.

    Ice nodded lightly in reply.

    "You''re right. We''ve come this far. Might as well struggle till the end."

    The pair exchanged fierce smiles. They readied themselves for battle once more. Ice and Ibex drank potions to restore their HPs. Surprisingly, the masked man didn''t do anything to stop them.

    "Have you resolved yourselves? Very well. It''s been a while since I''ve had prey with some fight in them. Let us play for a little while longer. Do try to entertain me to the best of your abilities. I get bored easily you see."

    The masked man''s tone was laced with contempt. Though there were also traces of excitement.

    He then revealed an unusual pair of weapons from under the sleeves of his robe. They resembled twin sickles, though they also had short blades fixed on top of the handles - a combination of two weapons.

    Ice wasn''t familiar with their usage so he didn''t have any idea of the attack variations they were capable of. He grew even more cautious.

    Ice glanced at the timers for the buffs provided by the Royal Ginseng. There was only a little over five minutes left for each of them. Ice narrowed his brows and smiled bitterly.

    "___Talk about cutting things close. What do you think Ibex?" he consulted telepathically.

    "___That guy''s certainly a threat. But those Mages with Slow are the greater problem for now. If we get hit with that while in the middle of a fight, things could get ugly fast.

    They would also cause problems if we do manage to break away from here. I reckon a few seconds of delay would be enough for the masked guy to catch up and finish us off."

    Agreeing on a plan of action, the pair prepared for the inevitable clash.

    ***

    A violet flash sped towards them without warning. The masked man started off with a one handed lunge with the weapon held in his left hand. Ice hurriedly brought up his Stiletto to block.

    He had barely succeeded in warding off the attack, but wasn''t given any opportunity to fix his stance. Another attack came from the right, aiming straight for Ice''s neck.

    Ice managed to duck at the last second and avoided getting his neck pierced. He reeled from the follow up knee that came from below that directly smashed his nose, shaving off 20% of his HP.

    He still managed to roll away backwards even with the pain that assaulted him, but got hit by a roundhouse kick just after he managed to stand up with shaky legs, sending him flying right through the window of a nearby building.

    An amused laugh resounded from nearby. The masked man was clearly enjoying tormenting him. He could have definitely finished Ice off earlier, but refrained from doing so. Ice gritted his teeth in frustration, but resolved to use the masked mans inclination to play around to buy some time.

    Still, getting beat up the entire time didn''t sound too appealing. Ice decided to fight back, also partly to keep the masked man''s attention fixed on him. Ice can''t have him getting bored too soon after all.

    He equipped a round buckler on his left hand to deal with the masked man''s dual wielding.

    A violet blur once again streaked towards him from beyond the broken window. The masked man lunged at him once more with his strange weapons.

    Ice blocked a sweeping blow with his Buckler and parried a thrust with his Stiletto. The added Def from the Buckler helped mitigate the damage. And this time, Ice had successfully blocked the attacks due to the high reaction speed (Rct) provided by his Passive Skill. He then kicked the man away with all his might, though it only reduced the mans HP by about 10%.

    "Hahahahaha! That''s it kid. Give me more. You should have some more fight left in you! Struggle to the bitter end! The expression of regret and despair on your face as I finally end your pitiful existence should be truly enjoyable to behold."

    "___This crazy bastard!" Ice thought as he spat out some blood that pooled within his mouth.

    The masked man pressed on with attacks once more. The fact that he was refraining from using Skills was proof that he wanted the fight to last a while longer in order to satisfy his own battle lust.

    Ice did his best to defend against the onslaught and tried to get in some counters. He couldn''t see the man''s expression under the full face mask, but he had a strong hunch the man was smiling maniacally as he worked to slowly corner his prey.

    The twin sickle-like weapons gave Ice quite a hard time. The reach was constantly changing, causing him significant difficulty in getting accustomed to its attack range.

    The masked man handled them a bit like Kali sticks, unleashing fast flurries of attacks at Ice from varying angles. He changed the position of his grip on the handles in an irregular rhythm.

    He''d switch around from gripping them at midpoint to near the sickle blades up top to the bottom part of the handles periodically throughout his attacks. Thus, at times, it seemed to Ice like the reach suddenly doubles or gets reduced, making him mess up the timing for blocking and parrying.

    The sickle and dagger-like blades fixed on the sides and on top of the handles respectively were also cause for difficulty. They provided a good balance between attack and defence.

    The sickle blades were used to block, parry as well as catch weapons by hooking them in. It would also mean trouble if ones head or limbs were caught at the mercy of the curved blades. The dagger blades provided longer range as well as the options of slashing and piercing attacks.

    The blows that the masked man unleashed only grazed Ice, opening small cuts and causing light bruises despite him having pried open Ice''s guard several times already; fully displaying the opponents intention of slowly tormenting him before finishing him off.

    Still, Ice persisted; constantly drinking HP recovery potions whenever he successfully takes some distance. Though he strongly suspected he was being led on to do just that in order to prolong his agony.

    After a few agonizing moments that seemed to Ice like eternity, Ibex''s loud cry telepathically resounded within his mind.

    "___Heads up kid! Bogeys coming your way at three o''clock! Closing in fast." Ibex warned.

    Ice immediately leaped from a nearby window, brandishing his Stiletto. He also used Smoke Screen Bombs; blanketing the room he and the masked man were in with a thick layer of smoke.

    The Bombs were normally tools for escaping from monsters while hunting, but were also used to distract ones enemies and rival adventurers. Ice wasn''t sure how effective they would be on the masked man, but even a few seconds of time bought would be fine.

    ***

    "?!"

    The surprised expressions of the two Mages greeted Ice as he ambushed them through the building window. Ibex had baited the two of them and brought them within Ice''s range so they could team up to finish them off.

    Ice''s weapon immediately found its way lodged within the skull of one of them; killing him instantly. Ibex had already reduced the Mage''s HP by quite a bit so one Critical blow was enough to bring his HP down to zero. It also helped that a Mage''s HP and Def are relatively low.

    The other one tried to take some distance while attempting to cast a Spell. Ice repeated the method he used to take down one of the assassins earlier and threw his Stiletto at the Mage. It pierced him right between the eyes; interupting the Spell chant.

    Ice then charged in and kicked the Stilettos handle, making it pierce right through the Mage''s head. They both landed on a nearby building roof.

    Surprisingly, the Mage stood up even with a dagger lodged within his head. His eyes were unfocused and bloodshot and his mouth was quirking up in a weird way. He only had a sliver of HP left.

    He then proceeded to pull the Stiletto out of his skull. It actually really resembled a B grade horror movie. Ice''s jaws dropped.

    "Eeeeh?! Is that even legal?!" he exclaimed in exasperation.

    "___Stop gawking like an idiot and quickly finish him off!" Ibex admonished. He then fired off a Frost Breath at the Mage; reducing the Mage''s HP even further.

    Ice got over his initial shock and sprinted off, brandishing a newly equipped Short Sword and cut the Mage down; finally killing him.

    Shortly aftewards, the masked man appeared from within the building Ice was also in earlier, first fixing his gaze on his fallen comrades and then at Ice and Ibex.

    The two looked at each other with questioning gazes.

    "Uh, should we run now?"

    "___We should run."

    The pair sprinted away at full speed without turning back. Ice also threw down a few more Smoke Screen Bombs to obstruct the masked mans vision.

    ***

    The Guild Leader of the Bloody Ravens stood on the roof of one of the buildings within Ricksvales capital, sporting a bemused smile from under his mask.

    "He he he. So that was your plan. You got rid of the potentially troublesome Mages while managing to keep me at bay for the most part.

    And now you try to escape towards the sanctuary provided by Ricksvales castle walls once more, not daring to take the risk of a confrontation with an enemy obviously beyond your league. Well played. Well played indeed."

    He opened his Item menu and scrolled down.

    "A truly interesting hunt this has been. Still, all good things must come to an end. I''m going to have to finish this job now.

    This is strictly business. Don''t take it against me."

    He brought out a vial that contained silver colored liquid. The Item name read ''Elementary Draught of Mercury''.

    It was a Consumable that raised movement speed. It also stacked with the Agi so Classes that focused on the stat covet it with considerable passion.

    It was also quite rare and expensive, because only the 2nd promotion of the Alchemist Job Class gains the ability to synthesize it. The materials needed in order to create it were also quite hard to come by, resulting in a limited supply. Only large specialty stores and prominent Merchant Guilds had some in stock, since they were the only ones capable of supporting the Draught''s production in bulk.

    Alchemists also preferred to get employed by these institutions as opposed to trying to strike out on their own. After all, it was safer and more stable to be part of them rather than go on adventuring by themselves with no guaranteed support.

    Alchemists and their later Class promotions had low combat ability after all. Raising one required a lot of patience and considerable capital. The Merchant Guilds provided the cash, materials and support. The Alchemists produced the goods. It was a mutually beneficial relationship.

    The Item was also provided by the Bloody Raven''s client as insurance. Using one now could be considered quite a luxury, but the Guild Leader wasn''t inclined to take any more chances.

    He lightly admonished himself for letting his impulsiveness get the better of him, resulting in him playing around too much. That led to the current situation. Still, what''s done is done. The Guild did receive quite the sum as payment for the hit. One Draught shouldn''t be too much of a loss.

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    He felt the change in his body''s capabilities as soon as he drank the concoction. His legs felt lighter than air. The smile under the mask turned savage and the man took off in order to finish his prey.

    ***

    Ice and Ibex felt an overwhelming amount of killing intent well up from behind them. They didn''t even need to turn around to see who it was that released it.

    "Oh crap! He''s catching up! That''s just too damn fast! Is he on steroids or something?!" Ice screamed in panic.

    "___You''re one to talk, considering you also ate a root to buff yourself up earlier. Anyway, just run kid! We''re almost there!" Ibex replied. He tried to mask it, but there were also traces of worry in his tone.

    But the masked man was simply too fast. He was only just a few paces from them now. He redied his weapons and prepared to slay the pair within moments.

    It was also at this moment that the buff effects of the Royal Ginseng finally wore off, making the situation even more dire.

    ***

    "That looks a little too much for them don''t you think? The others may be amateurs but this one looks relatively skilled. He might have already gone through the first promotion."

    Captain Gates expressed his concerns to Sea. Apprehension was evident in his countenance.

    Sea glanced at Captain Gates and nodded lightly.

    "Alright. I suppose I should cut them some slack now. I''m satisfied with the results anyway. As expected of Ice ehehe."

    Captain Gates was taken aback by the all-too-nonchalant attitude and was unable to voice any further reply. Sea brought out her Comm Glyph and contacted her subordinates.

    "Hello Sasha? Is everybody in position?"

    A cheerful, airy voice replied through the device.

    "___Yup! We''re all good to go captain. Your orders?"

    "Take down all those bothersome pests. If they put up too much of a struggle, eliminate them. Our prison cells are crowded enough as it is."

    "___Okie dokies captain. Heads up you lot! Time for some clean up!"

    Sea put the Comm Glyph back to her Item Inventory and turned to captain Gates with an immaculate smile on her beautiful visage.

    "That takes care of most of the troublesome stuff. Shall we wrap things up on our end as well? I''ll take point.

    Killing that masked man should be easy enough. I don''t want to trouble you guys any further anyway. Thank you for going along with my selfish request everyone.

    Now then... If you''ll excuse me..."

    Sea leaped from the building roof and headed straight for the masked man. Captain Gates was left dumbfounded and remained unmoving for a few moments. Another knight captain tapped his shoulder, snapping him out of his current state.

    "We should go as well. Though I doubt we''d have anything to do except try to reign Captain Seyramour in to keep her from going overboard anyway; as futile as that may seem." a well built man wearing a full plate armor version of Ricksvales standard knight equipment stated while leaking out a weary sigh.

    "Captain Malraux..."

    Captain Gates thought it all too incredulous. He had seen many hardened criminals and notorious mercenaries that inspired terror with just their air and appearance from his time as a freelance fighter and throughout his service to the crown.

    Yet he had never been as terrified of anything as much as he was after witnessing a lovely young woman talk about ending lives with the same tone and expression as though she was about to take a stroll or picnic. Her cherubic smile was filled with a myriad contradictions.

    He could only try to shake off his apprehension as he followed the rest of the captains down the rooftop towards the commotion below.

    ***

    A violet blur loomed over Ice and Ibex as they continued to flee. The masked that had his movement speed enhanced by the Draught caught up to the pair quite easily. He brandished his weapons and prepared to fire of a Skill after closing the distance.

    He activated one of the Shadow Stalkers signature Skills - Shadow Rend - in order to finish Ice off. Shadow Stalker is the first Class promotion of Assassins and proof that the masked man had already reached or went past Level 50. He was in a whole other league compared to Ice.

    His weapon was covered in ominous black aura and slashed powerfully at Ice, threatening to decapitate him. But before the attack could reach...

    "Pardon me gentlemen..."

    A long, slender leg kicked the man right in the face, canceling the Skill and shattering the raven mask in the process. The man reeled back in shock and pain.

    "Wha-! Who-?..."

    A blond young mans well featured face was revealed from under the mask. His face was distorted with an expression that went from rage to disbelief and finally, fear as he faced his attacker.

    "You''re... the Crimson Valkyrie! But why?! Knight captains shouldn''t have been dispatched for something like this!" he screamed in panic.

    Needless to say, it was Sea. She stood between the surprised Ice and the man sporting an innocent expression.

    "Ehehe. Unfortunately for you, the target for this assassination attempt is a little bit of a special case. Thus, we were tasked with protecting him by his royal highness the prince reagent himself."

    The blond young man was shocked witless. He wasn''t told anything of the sort by the current client. No wonder the pay was so good.

    "I don''t suppose you''d deign to let me go after all this will you..."

    Sea pursed her pretty lips and replied in a cheerful tone.

    "Eh? That depends. Will you consider ceasing this assassination attempt? It should be no trouble deciding now that you know who you''re dealing with."

    The young man paused for a brief moment and shook his head slowly afterwards.

    "I''m sorry but I can''t do that. Our Guild is already in dire straights at the moment. Another failure will spell the end for the Bloody Ravens. We do not go back on our clients after all. That''s just how this business is."

    "I see. The Assassins Code is it? How truly unfortunate. Come then. The least I could do is put you out of your misery quickly."

    Sea motioned her forefinger to provoke the man to attack. She also looked at Ice and Ibex and gave them a playful wink.

    "Don''t worry guys. This''ll be over in a jiffy." she exclaimned in a cheery tone.

    The young man suddenly attacked without warning. He only wanted to do enough in order to shake Sea off and proceed to kill Ice. Afterwards, he planned to flee with all his might and survive.

    Yet it was only wishful thinking...

    Sea flawlessly avoided his attack and, with a single swipe of her weapon, cut open the young mans throat, sending him toppling over.

    The young man had a look of utter disbelief in his expression after the short exchange. His HP completely turned to zero. Before he died, he muttered almost inaudibly under his breath.

    "It... wasn''t supposed... to end... this way... My first... Transmigration...."

    His body completely grayed out after a few moments.

    ***

    "Ice! Are you alright? You''re not hurt are you?"

    Sea was now busy fusing over Ice with a worried expression. The newly arrived knight captains all looked at the spectacle sporting bitter smiles. Captain Gates looked the most perplexed.

    "___One moment she''s utterly harsh and merciless and now she''s acting like a maiden in love... What is with this girl?!... And need I remind that it was actually her who allowed the situation to escalate and placed that young man in even more danger in the first place?..."

    Not that he could voice out his thoughts though. Captain Gates once again felt thankful that he still remained single. The notion that women were unfathomable and occasionally dangerous creatures was now deeply entrenched within his mind.

    Ice shook Sea off, feeling embarrassed about all the attention.

    "I''m fine Sea. A bit roughed up but nothing too serious."

    Sea smiled in relief.

    "Mm. That''s good then. I was actually a bit worried that it was too much for you. But you pulled through just fine. As expected of Ice. You really are amazing. Ehehe."

    "?"

    Ice was a bit puzzled by her remark. But the tension finally caught up with him and he didn''t probe any further; feeling rather beat up and emotionally drained from the earlier ordeal.

    It was decided that Ice would move in to the castle once more for the duration of his stay in the capital for his safety. He would also get a small guard detail whenever he goes out to hunt.

    Ice felt it a bit excessive, but could only reluctantly agree, given the potential threats he may face. It was also a direct order from the prince reagent, so it made it even harder for Ice to decline.

    It seems Prince Alder was finally acting true to his earlier words about taking advantage of the feelings of gratitude to gain his cooperation. Ice had to admit, it was pretty effective for someone of his disposition.

    He wasn''t all that happy about it, truth be told. But he felt now wasn''t the time to brood about these things. So he put it off at the back of his mind and followed Sea towards the castle.

    He suddenly felt someone lightly pat his shoulder. It was a hawkish, bespectacled man with wavy brown hair. Ice remembered him to be Captain Hartman Gates of the Banefang Knight Squad.

    He had seen him and his men a couple of times within the castle grounds and in patrol on the city streets along with the city guard. They were mostly in charge of keeping law and order within the capital. They could be likened to the local police.

    Captain Gates looked at him with a curious expression that contained traces of worry. Ice nodded at him lightly in acknowledgement. Captain Gates smiled somewhat sheepishly in return and went ahead shortly afterwards.

    "Hmm? Do I really look that miserable? Even the other captains are noticing." Ice thought. He turned his attention to Ibex who was trailing them from a bit farther back.

    "What''s wrong?" Ice asked. Ibex was currently glaring at the head of their current retinue, where Sea and the other captains were.

    "___No, it''s nothing. Good work kid. You did well to survive." he replied.

    "Yeah... Thanks."

    The pair grew quiet as they trudged along the city streets as they headed for the castle.

    ***

    A hooded figure was currently running within the back alleys of the capital city in haste.

    "___How dare those incompetent fools! I''ve paid them well beyond the average going price and all I get rewarded with is complete and utter failure. Unacceptable! I will get rid of that ''impurity'' if it''s the last thing I do."

    He barely made it out of the maze of narrow passages only for the exit to be blocked by a sleepy looking young man dressed in the standard equipment of the Ricksvale royal guard. The hooded mans face momentarily displayed traces of panic. He barely managed to collect himself and put on the best poker face he could make.

    "Why hello there sir knight. Are you currently on patrol?"

    The sleepy looking young man looked at him indifferently.

    "You could say that. What are you doing all the way out here Lord Vance? Is the castle being run in order without the chamberlain present?"

    "The castle staff are all competent people in their own right. The head maid Miss Martha is especially gifted in managing the castle''s affairs. She might even take my job from me if I''m not careful. Ahahaha."

    "Hmmm... Why the get-up though? This isn''t exactly the most upstanding part of the city either. What could your business be here in the slums milord?"

    Lord Vance, Ricksvale castles grand chamberlain, lightly clicked his tongue in annoyance. The young knight was being unexpectedly nosy despite his unconcerned appearance.

    "Actually, I''m in the process of smoothing out a minor issue regarding one of our castle maids. It seems she was tricked by a rather foul fellow that lives here in the slums. I''m here to give him a stern warning. I''m rather fond of that maid after all. Such a hard working young lady. Ahahaha."

    Lord Vance was bluffing. He was referencing some events that the castle maids gossiped about recently. He''d just need to deal with any complications that come up later.

    "Hee... That''s quite courageous of you. You don''t even have a single guard."

    "Haha. I don''t want to trouble his highness about a little issue like this after all. Now then, if you''ll excuse me. I really need to go back to the castle. It would be troublesome if people thought I was slacking off on the job."

    The young man let out a sigh and shrugged lightly.

    "You don''t have to worry about that milord. After all, you won''t be coming back."

    "Eh?"

    Before Lord Vance knew it, he was already lying on the ground. No, his body was still standing upright. It was just that his head was severed from his neck and fell on the pavement.

    "Ah-?"

    Before he could make sense of what happened, his vision rapidly grew dark.

    The young knight, Sir Evann Waynebright of the Sybilwind Knight Squad headed by Sea, sheathed the sword he used to decapitate the unfortunate chamberlain and held up a Comm Glyph.

    "It''s me. I''ve disposed of him like you requested. Honestly, why is it only me who gets assigned to do your dirty work? It''s even the perfect day to lay around and take a nap."

    Roaring laughter came from the other end of the line.

    "___Ahahaha. Tough luck kid. I have appearances to keep. Your sister isn''t exactly in the position to provide some help either. She transmigrated into a tree for crying out loud.

    You guys were always lazing around on campus during our student days anyway. Haven''t you had enough? You could have followed your sisters example if you really couldn''t be bothered anyway."

    "Please don''t lump me up with that epitome of utter strangeness. We''re nothing alike."

    "___Really? I personally think the resemblance is striking."

    "Please keep your opinions to yourself. Anyway, enough about me. You sure this was a wise move? You should know exactly what this guy is connected with. If ''they'' happen to question our actions..."

    "___Don''t worry. ''They'' shouldn''t raise too much of a fuss. It''s like we did them a favor anyway. The guy''s gone rogue so they would have had to deal with him soon enough. Think of it as free service. We''re private contractors after all."

    "You''re always so carefree. Well, if you say so. Why''d you keep one of their ''puppets'' by your side anyway? You even promoted him to grand chamberlain."

    "___Because it was interesting. We may have different roots. But we''re basically both sentient beings. ''They'' may think themselves superior after playing ''gods''. But I beg to differ.

    We''re all just dancing to the tune played by our own demons. How different can we be? I wanted to observe the end of a man toyed around by the ''gods'' who created him. After all, we may well suffer the same fate."

    Evann shrugged his shoulders after the reply. His brows knitted slightly and let out a fed up sigh.

    "You''re always like that. Whether ''here'' or ''there'' or some other damn place they manage to cough up, what''s the difference? Everything''s still made up of bland colors and damn facades. I don''t even know why I actually allowed myself to get roped in by you."

    "___You just can''t resist my overflowing charisma kid! Even your sister was charmed."

    "She was so charmed she turned herself into a plant..."

    "___Ahahaha. Honestly kid, you''re always so damn negative. Go find yourself a nice young lady and fall in love. It might insert some more life in you. Don''t you find the art style in this world attractive? What was it called again? Moe..."

    "Go to hell..."

    And the call was cut.

    ***

    Within the central gardens of Ricksvale castle stood a lone figure. It was the ruler of the country, Lord Alder Falwynd Ricksvale. His hair was being swept up by the gently blowing wind.

    "Ahaha. Hear that Ylliria? Your little brother is going through his rebellious phase."

    The massive tree in the center of the gardens shook its thick branches, as if in reply.

    "Haha. Things should turn more interesting from now on. I''m quite thankful to those guys for stirring up trouble at this time. I''ll be sure to take advantage of it to my hearts content."

    Lord Alders carefree expression turned into a savage one.

    "Finally, it begins. Those guys still want to play it safe. But why don''t we finally go ahead and turn all of ''Creation'' in on itself now? I''m sure the resulting chaos and rebirth will be glorious to behold."

    His grin split to a wide crescent and within his eyes dwelt a crazed light.

    -Chapter 16 End-

 Chapter 17: Unlikely Dillemas, Unexpected(?) Developments and a Sudden Night Visit

    Ice was currently laying about on the large, canopied bed that he slept in when he first came to Ricksvale castle. He was back to the familiar room overlooking the palace gardens, looking a little worse for wear. It was already late at night, but Ice didn''t feel like sleeping just yet. He kept staring above, seemingly lost in thought.

    Ibex made himself comfortable by the edge of the bed, but finally got fed up of Ice''s behavior and nudged him lightly, sporting an annoyed gaze.

    "___Alright kid, what is it this time?"

    Ice sat up and moved his gaze towards Ibex. He smiled bitterly at the miffed mountain goat and scratched his cheek in self admonishment.

    "Sorry. I was just thinking about some things."

    ¡±___What kinds of things? Talk to Dr. Ibex about it son. I may be able to help."

    Ice laughed lightly at Ibex''s little jab and fixed his position to face Ibex directly.

    "I was just wondering if it was really that... simple."

    "___''It''?" Ibex probed.

    "...Killing."

    Ibex rolled his eyes and sighed.

    "___Oh... It''s that huh? Moral dilemmas is it? How cliche."

    "Hey! I''m pretty serious here." Ice retorted indignantly.

    "___Yeah, I know. Sorry. You just have no idea how many times I''ve gone through this sort of stuff with your predecessors already. Can''t blame me for being a tad bit fed up."

    Ice shook his head slowly in exasperation. The two shared a quiet laugh.

    "___Anyway, what''s going on with you then? Given that you didn''t freak out or throw up at the sight of blood and gore, I''d say you''re taking things pretty well."

    "That''s not it. Rather, that''s the problem. I think I''m taking things ''too'' well."

    Ice paused for a bit and glanced at the hand that held the weapons he brandished earlier.

    "___Go on." Ibex urged.

    Ice exhaled to calm himself and continued.

    "It may just be a problem of perspectives, but somehow, I feel that I seem to treat the weight of lives lighter than normal. You mentioned having trouble adapting to everything looking animated at first too. So I bet you can understand how weird this all feels."

    "___Uhuh. And?" Ibex urged further.

    "I don''t feel I''m fully accepting all of this as reality. Maybe I''m still holding on to the hope that this is all just a whacked out dream. Maybe that''s why I could take lives without really feeling anything.

    Or maybe all of that''s just an excuse..."

    "___Meaning?"

    "Meaning maybe all of this was in my nature to begin with. See, there''s this buzzing in my ear after I made my first kill. It was just like what happened during college ROTC. It was the very first time I fired a live gun - a standard assault rifle.

    After I unlocked the safety and fired the first shot, there was that buzzing. It was the sound of the gunshot messing with my ears since I didn''t wear muffs. But there was this strange euphoria... All that remained was me, the rifle and the target. I kept firing shot after shot till I emptied the clip. Then I wanted more.

    I saw those people earlier as targets. Like those cardboard cutouts I kept peppering with bullets. There was this feeling of elation whenever I got in a Critical hit or made a kill. There was this sense of liberation. Frankly, it scares me... Those were lives right? I killed people right? Then why...?"

    Ibex sighed again and looked Ice in the eye.

    "___Kid, they were trying to kill you. If we didn''t do them in, it could have been you who bit the dust."

    "Yeah, but..."

    "___Look here kid... Do you actually feel the urge to go on a rampage and cut people up welling inside you lately?"

    "No..."

    "___Then you''re fine. You''re not a damn psychopathic mass murderer in the making or anything. Congratulations kid."

    "Ibex..."

    Ice looked even more troubled by Ibex''s nonchalant reply. Ibex nudged him again, now sporting a genuinely concerned gaze.

    "___Kid, look... I''m not claiming I have the authority to judge about morality. But at the very least, I don''t think the acts you did nor the thoughts you harbored while doing them are worthy of reproach. At the very least, I won''t condemn you for it. If that''s worth anything to you.

    It''s that y''know. Survival instincts kicking in or something. Fight or flight. And adrenaline too. You were just too high on the stuff to notice. Y''know... Just like soldiers on the battlefield. It''s not like you relish in wanton murder right? Plus, that disposition of yours is actually kinda good considering the type of world El Fabula is. So stop brooding about it so much kid."

    Ice''s expression lightened somewhat after Ibex''s lecture. His apprehension didn''t completely disappear though. Ibex''s brows twitched a bit and he suddenly plopped himself on the bed, startling Ice.

    "___Keh! Annoying! I said stop brooding so stop ya idiot!" Ibex burst out.

    "The heck? What''s with you?." Ice exclaimed.

    They stared each other down opposite sides of the bed.

    "You know... This would be perfect if it were actually a cute girl consoling me. A loli tsundere would be bonus points. More ''dere'' and less ''tsun'' by the way." Ice quipped.

    "___I totally have no idea what you''re talking about. But unfortunately kid, you only have me around right now. Or do you want me to call the princess and that lady knight captain over? Then I can just watch the carnage unfold..." Ibex retorted.

    The two laughed unreservedly. Ice''s expression finally turned mellow. He kicked Ibex off the bed and finally turned in to sleep.

    ***

    It''s been a few days since the encounter with the Bloody Ravens. Ice had trained and hunted extensively for most of that time and managed to bring himself up to Level 31 without much incident.

    Ice felt he could have done better, but he was still prohibited from going to the higher level hunting grounds and dungeons, especially those which were a bit too far from the city.

    He was now in the middle of attending an abrupt audience with the prince reagent. He didn''t have any idea why he was called, but he planned to appeal to be able to access higher leveled areas. The XP he gets from the nearby monsters is already starting to become woefully inadequate.

    A plump middle aged man wearing a monocle called the attention of everyone present and announced the arrival of the prince. From what Ice recalled, his name was Matthias Levant and is the newly appointed grand chamberlain. Lord Levant sported a jovial looking expression most of the time and had a habit of cracking poorly delivered jokes.

    As for the previous chamberlain, Ice was told he was the one behind the assassination attempt on him. He was believed to be a spy sent by one of the other countries in the Valis continent and wanted to nip trouble in the bud which led to him commissioning the Bloody Ravens to eliminate Ice.

    "An Exclusive Class''ll attract this much trouble. It''s already a given. I''ve told you that the first time we met within the palace gardens." Prince Alder exclaimed as he proceeded to lecture Ice right after the incident. He then insisted on providing an escort for Ice''s protection and imposed some restrictions on Ice''s hunting activities.

    Ice was determined to protest and stress the point that this excessive caution was stifling. He shortly moved his gaze to the throne and knelt down just like the others present.

    He was together with Sea and some of the members of the Sybilwind Knight Division; namely Rosseane, Sasha and Evann. Sea smiled reassuringly at him and Rosseane gave him a playful wink. Sasha also acknowledged Ice with a thumbs up. Evann looked lethargic as always but still gave him a slight nod. Ice nodded back and looked towards the throne area once more.

    Princess Thelma and Prince Ricard sat beside their father. Thelma was now exuding a regal air fit for royalty. Even Ice found it mesmerizing. It seems it was another case of gap moe. Their gazes met abruptly and Ice wryly smiled, prompting Thelma to blush and pout slightly. They both fixed their expressions when Prince Alder began speaking.

    "Rise everyone." he began. Ice and the others immediately stood at attention.

    "You may be wondering why I''ve called you all here. Actually, I simply want to make a proposal and I want the approval of all those present here."

    Prince Alder paused and looked to Thelma. He smiled warmly at her, prompting Thelma to blush once she noticed her father''s gaze.

    "W-What is it Your Majesty? Do you require something of this humble daughter?" she asked with her voice a little stiff.

    "Oh spare me the formalities dear. Just call me papa like you always do in private. That way of speaking truthfully doesn''t suit you. The image is slightly off. Don''t you think so too Ice?"

    The prince reagent looked at Ice and grinned mischievously. Ice couldn''t help but play along.

    "If I may voice myself candidly Your Majesty, you speak the truth. Though it may be that I have become too biased because of the first impressions I had of the fair princess when we first met. She did wear men''s clothes after all. The feel she gave off was also completely different."

    Prince Alder nodded strongly in acknowledgement.

    "Right, right. She''s always had this rough around the edges feel to her. Maybe it''s her parent''s blood rubbing off on her; in which case I''m not entirely blameless. The fact that she manages to pull off acting like a prim and proper princess is a miracle in and of itself."

    Thelma was inwardly fuming with a mixture of anger and embarrassment. Finally, she couldn''t take it anymore and made an outburst.

    "Ooooh! Stop making fun of me you two! If you continue doing that, I''ll hate you both forever!"

    "___Ah... How childish." Ice thought. But he had to admit, Thelma''s pouting expression was really cute.

    "Hahaha! Now, now dear. We were only jesting. No need to be so worked up. Papa will buy you that deluxe strawberry parfait later. It''s your favorite right?"

    "S-Stop treating me like a kid! Honestly..." Thelma retorted indignantly and blushed even more.

    Camera-like snapping sounds came from the other side of the throne.

    "What exactly are you doing oh little brother of mine?"

    Needless to say, it was Prince Ricard, busy with his portable mana-vision camera.

    "Can''t you tell sister. I''m advancing on the path of nouveau art. Those were some good shots by the way. It''ll sell well with your fan club. Maybe I should raise the prices a bit..."

    "Why you little..."

    Prince Alder coughed loudly to reign in the commotion. Thelma sat down with her pout turning even more sour. Ricard put away his camera and composed himself like nothing happened.

    "Ahem! We may have strayed far from the point back there. So let me make this brief. I''m in the mind to make Thelma attend Astervine Institute for her adventurer training and I want to suggest that Ice and the rest of you accompany my daughter."

    Thelma''s eyes went as wide as saucers.

    "P-Papa! You mean...?"

    "Well what do you know. My daughter finally called me papa."

    "Enough fooling around papa! You sending me to Astervine means you finally approve of me being an adventurer right?"

    Prince Alder sighed audibly.

    "What choice do I have dear? You''ve already gone and become one for crying out loud. The least a father could do is to make sure my dear daughter is ready for the life she chose.

    I''ve always had an inkling that it''d turn out into something like this. Your mother was the same. She also couldn''t endure sitting still on the throne. So much so that she''d gone ahead of all of us to the grandest of all adventures."

    Lord Alders countenance briefly flashed with melancholy. He gave Thelma a stern look.

    "Just grant me one thing dear. I''ll support you as much as I can. After you graduate and get your certification, you''re free to do whatever you want with your life. But please don''t do anything too reckless. You know full well how potentially dangerous an adventurers life is. You''re old enough to understand its not all fun and games. So promise me you won''t try to actively head into danger unless you feel it''s necessary. Papa still wants to see his grand kids."

    Though, he ended it in a joking tone, Prince Alder''s eyes were welling with emotion. Thelma forced down the urge to cry and hug her father. They looked at each other with thoughts filled with complex feelings.

    Lord Alder turned his attention back to Ice and the Sybiwind knights.

    "So there you have it. I''m going to entrust my daughter to your care once more captain Seyramour. Since she plans to broaden her horizons after this, it may be the last time your knights protect her as her personal guard. Still, I ask you to watch over her and make sure she''s ready to take on the world."

    "Of course your majesty. We''ll take care of her to the best of our abilities, just as what we''ve always done. The princess is in good hands."

    Sea bowed lightly and reassured Prince Alder.

    "I''m sure she is captain. Now then, how about you sir Ice? Do you consent with accompanying my daughter? I''m sure going to Astervine will greatly benefit you as well. It seems you actively want to participate in the expeditions to the Uncharted Lands. We hope for you to do so as well, truth be told. This will help boost your credentials. I would also feel better if my daughter is accompanied by someone she deems trustworthy. You can also help in keeping ''pests'' away, if you get my meaning."

    Ice sported a confused look.

    "Well, could someone first tell me what this Astervine Institute is?"

    "You''re not familiar with Astervine? Ah, right. You had amnesia didn''t you? In that case, its not surprising you don''t know of it. It''s the most prestigious Adventurer Training Institute in the country - arguably the entire continent." Prince Alder replied.

    Sea explained things further.

    "The Astervine Institute was founded by one of the most famous adventurers in the Valis continent - Alistair Astervine. He was one of the original members of The Dawn Star - a famous party of high ranking adventurers that had amassed countless exploits during the third Bloody Advent."

    "Bloody Advent?" Ice asked.

    "Bloody Advent refers to the sudden outpouring of countless monsters from all over the continent. They ignored their usual behavior of not entering populated areas and attack en masse, leaving massive casualties in their wake.

    They are also sometimes accompanied by several boss monsters. The boss monters ranks may vary, but Tyrants may sometimes appear. Tyrants are already a handful, but The Dawn Star is famous for taking down the only Overlord rank boss to appear during that time."

    "___So it''s basically like a boss raid." Ice thought. He had wanted to ask for more details but Sea had already moved her explanation on. Ice decided to just take note of it for now and do further research on it later.

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    "Astervine Institute is Alistair Astervine''s greatest legacy. Countless famous top ranked adventurers had trained and graduated from the institute, which only serves as a testament to its excellence. Even seasoned veterans still visit the Institute to learn and polish their abilities.

    Getting to Basic Class and being recognized by the CQMA is but the first step. Though entering an adventurer training institute is actually optional, graduating and getting a certification from one, especially one as famous and prestigious as Astervine, will definitely boost your credentials by a whole lot. It would really help if, for instance, you wanted to join a well established Guild or sign up for the selections for officially sanctioned expeditions to the Uncharted Lands."

    The more he heard, the more advantageous the whole deal seemed to Ice. So it was basically just like a really famous university or graduate school. From the tone of the conversation earlier, it looks like the crown would account for him as well, considering the prince reagent was actually requesting him to accompany his daughter. Though this could only mean his debts would increase; both literally and figuratively.

    After weighing the pros and cons for a while, Ice finally decided to accept. He needed to absorb all the knowledge and experience he could, and going at it solo had its limitations. He also couldn''t impose himself on the knights training indefinitely. Besides, going to school again after all this time seemed strangely alluring to him. He kind of felt young again. Getting to be schoolmates with a beautiful princess was also a nice bonus.

    Prince Alder was rather satisfied with Ice''s decision. He proceeded to dismiss them after announcing that they would travel to Astervine via a convoy of carriages in a few days. The rest of the time should be spent preparing.

    As each of them went out of the royal hall, an annoyed looking Evann glanced briefly at Prince Alder and muttered under his breath.

    "What a goddamn farce..."

    Prince Alder watched the retreating bunch with an enigmatic smile.

    ***

    Ice was currently staring at the canopy of the large bed he lay on again. But this time, his countenance was lighter and was filled with more vitality. It seems he had come to terms with his earlier dillemas somewhat and was now only thinking in anticipation of the coming trip and subsequent enrollment to Astervine Institute.

    As he was lounging around like that, soft rapping sounds came from outside the window overlooking the garden. As Ice turned his attention to the window, slender snow white legs suddenly peeked out from it, startling Ice.

    "Heya!"

    A gorgoeus young woman suddenly came in from outside the window. Magnificent ruby red hair crowned her lovely head and framed her beautiful features. Her cheerful devil-may-care smile exuded both allure and gallantry. Ice was familiar with that smile.

    "Well, this is certainly a surprise. What can I do for you milady Rosseane?"

    It was indeed Rosseane Danhurst. Ice was a bit bothered by the turn of events. It wasn''t every day that he got a visit from a beautiful lady in his room at night. She had even made such a ''dynamic'' entrance. He was also afraid that his life would be put in jeopardy if her father, Director Roald, ever found out.

    "Ahaha. Ah, well... I just wanted to talk to you about some things for a bit." she replied while scratching her cheek lightly.

    "Why come in through the window though? Couldn''t you have just knocked through the door?" Ice asked.

    "Well... I kind of didn''t want anyone else from the castle to notice. Plus, this way''s a lot more exciting right?" she replied and stuck out her tongue in a cute gesture.

    Ice was a bit taken aback and blinked his eyes several times, obviously charmed. He hurriedly ushered Rosseane in. Any longer time spent staring at her slender legs would be bad for his heart. Rosseane sat down on the chair near the bed with a hearty plop.

    "So... What''s this about?" Ice probed.

    Rosseane paused for a bit and looked at Ice with a slightly hesitant expression. She breathed in and out a few times to compose herself and looked straight at Ice afterwards.

    "It''s about Captain Seabelle and the princess. I''m not going to be able to join you guys at Astervine just yet because of some organizational matters. So I kinda wanted to discuss some things with you before then."

    Ice''s eyebrows twitched slightly. He already had somewhat of an inkling about what the talk was going to be about. But he refrained from interjecting and waited for Rosseane to continue.

    "You should have already noticed their affection towards you. I''m sure you''re not all that dense. Plus, they''re being sooo obvious about it. It''ll be a crime for you not to notice! So, you''ve noticed right? Tell me you have!"

    She had started calmly, but it didn''t take long for her to be a little too worked up and proceed to breath down Ice''s neck; her face drawing so dangerously close that Ice would only have to lean forward a little bit to touch lips.

    "Uh... Miss... That''s too close..."

    Rosseane noticed their current embarrassing state and quickly drew back with her face flushed red. She coughed lightly in order to clear the awkward air and proceeded while sporting an apologetic smile.

    "Ehehe. Uh... yeah. Well, it''s like that. I just wanted to make sure about how you felt for the both of them. I consider them both my good friends so I guess I''m just being a bit nosy for their sakes. Sorry."

    Ice smiled wryly. He admired Rosseane''s straightforwardness.

    "___The ever dependable ''wingman'' eh. Or is it ''wingwoman'' in this case?" Ice mused; his grin deepening. He took a deep breath and proceeded to answer Rosseane, whose eyes were filled with anticipation.

    "That''s alright. I don''t really mind. And as for your question... well... I guess I have. In a manner of speaking."

    "Meaning?" Rosseane pressed on.

    "Well, y''see I''m kind of a late bloomer when it comes to dealing with the opposite gender. I''m not really familiar with dealing with this kind of stuff see. So even though I kinda do recognize their feelings, I''m really not all that confident I can respond to them properly. I actually often wonder if I''m reading things right. And I can''t say I have the self esteem to pursue either of them even if given the chance. I do find the both of them to be charming. But I guess I''m just plain and simply afraid."

    Rosseane knitted her brows gradually as Ice talked. He noticed her reaction, and this time, it was his turn to display an apologetic look.

    "You''re actually a complete novice when it comes to romance aren''t you?" she asked.

    "Well... yeah. Guess that''s about it in a nutshell. You must be disappointed huh? I''m actually quite spineless when it comes to things like this. Sorry." Ice answered in a somewhat dejected tone.

    Ice also had other reasons why he didn''t want to actively pursue any sort of romantic relationship with the women he''s met. But he refrained from mentioning them because he''d have to divulge a lot of things he wasn''t willing to reveal to anyone else yet - namely his coming from another world and the world he was currently in right now being drastically different from where he came from.

    He thought it would really complicate things in the end if he crossed a certain line. He still hasn''t given up on going home after all. And there was one more emotional baggage he''d gone and left on Earth which made him quite uneasy - his relationship with Lin. He wasn''t even sure what exactly their relationship was. He wasn''t really given a chance to find out before coming to El Fabula. Or more like he blew every chance he got. Ice felt even more dejected.

    "N-No. That''s perfectly fine. I was surprised that you were actually an honest-to-goodness ''cherry boy'' at first, but it''s not like these things don''t happen. You don''t have to feel depressed for having practically zero experience with women. It''s no big deal really. And besides, you''re still quite young. You''re what? Like, eighteen to nineteen-ish or something. It''s actually not that surprising when you think about it... Wait, why are you slumped on the floor like that?"

    Ice''s face turned a whole shade of blue. He fell down depressed on the floor.

    "___I''m actually already twenty five dammit! I''m turning twenty six this June... All those years spent without a proper girlfriend..." he thought back in anguish. He wanted to cry. No, his soul was already crying. It was crying bucketfulls. Any more damage and it would be spewing blood.

    "Eh? Wait, what? Um, Ice? Hey! Are you okay?"

    "H-Hahahaha... Haaaah... Yeah. I was just a bit shocked. You sure don''t hold back milady. That did quite a bit of damage..."

    "Eh? Ah... Well, um... I''m sorry."

    "Nah, it''s fine. Don''t be. I''m already alright see."

    Rosseane was flustered after seeing Ice''s reaction. In the end, all she managed was an awkward apology. Ice decided to just wave the matter aside.

    "Um... Well... Putting aside returning their feelings for now, I still want to ask of you to continue being their friend. If possible, I want you to become one of their emotional supports. Now, I know that sounds real selfish. But... well..."

    Rosseane bit her lip. It seemed she couldn''t find the appropriate words to convey what''s on her mind properly.

    "Well, I do plan to continue getting along with them. But why''d you feel the need to ask for this specifically? From what I could see, the both of them really do seem like wonderful individuals." Ice answered.

    "Well... How do I put this?... Are you even aware of why they like you as much as they do Ice?"

    Ice slowly shook his head.

    "Truthfully, no. I can''t really say it''s because of my charming personality right? I don''t really know if my physical appearance passes for being attractive in the eyes of a woman. So no. No idea at all."

    Rosseane looked at Ice with a somewhat bemused and exasperated expression. It was not unlike how a wise elder sister watches over her foolish little brother.

    "You''re incorrigible." she quipped and lightly sighed.

    "Well, it''s like this... The two of them are very famous individuals in their own right. The princess is one thing, but the captain also has her fair share of the spotlight. So it isn''t really surprising that they''re kinda put in pedestals so to speak. There''s always some sort of distance when other people interact with them. Heck, I call myself their friend but even I''m guilty of that in a way.

    You''re different though. There''s no sense of excessive awe or pretense when you''re with the two of them. It all seemed very... natural. It may be because of your circumstances, but I believe that apart from their families, they can feel the most at ease when they''re with you."

    Ice was somehow getting increasingly flustered the more he listened to Rosseane. There was also a sense of pressure in her words. He scratched the back of his head, not really sure what to make of the whole thing.

    "Haha. Is that so... Uh, yeah. What can I say?... Is that really the case?"

    "It IS! I''m sure of it!" came a high pitched reply. Ice couldn''t help but flinch a little from Rosseane''s passion.

    "I know I''m being unreasonable. But I guess I just want some form of assurance that you''ll continue to treat them as you have in the future. You do have a positive influence on them y''know. They both kind of have their own issues to deal with. You haven''t known them for that long so it isn''t surprising that you haven''t noticed yet. But I hope you''ll be able to continue being with them and at least try to understand them when the time comes."

    Ice sighed and nodded lightly in reply.

    "All right. I don''t know what''ll happen in the future, but I promise I''ll act as I always have when I''m with them. I''m going to the Institute with the both of them anyway. We''ll have plenty of time to interact."

    Rosseane made a relieved expression. She smiled gratefully at Ice. He couldn''t help but grin wryly once more after seeing her smile like that.

    "You know milady... You actually seem like a reliable older sister or a nosy mother worrying about her children."

    "Oh shut it. They''re just so troublesome at times. They both have skewed views of the world due to their upbringing so I really can''t help but worry. After all, I''m still their friend. And don''t call me a mother! I''m just eighteen myself."

    For some reason, Rosseane''s rebuke made Ice feel really old.

    "Well, that''s about it I guess. Sorry for bothering you. Maybe the reason why I''m involving myself a little too much in those two''s affairs is because I''m kind of envious of them. Aaaah! I want to find someone special too..."

    "Don''t worry. We haven''t found the time to get to know each other that well yet. But judging from tonight, I think you''re a very lovely lady and a good person. I think anyone who manages to become the object of your affection should be considered extremely lucky."

    Rosseane''s cheeks flushed red once more from Ice''s thoughtless praise. Ice finally noticed he''d been running his mouth a little too much and paused abruptly, not knowing how else to react. Rosseane managed to recover first.

    "Uh... Ahaha. Wow, look how late it is already. I better go. Anyway, thank you for listening. And um... good luck, okay. B-Bye."

    Ice managed to stammer out an awkward reply.

    "Uh... Y-Yeah. Good luck to you too. A-And good night."

    "G''night."

    Rosseane hurriedly went back over to the window and leaned out towards the gardens below. She looked back towards Ice one last time. And after giving him an ephemeral smile made even more lovely by being framed by silvery rays of moonlight streaming from outside, she was gone.

    "..."

    Ice was left in the room, slightly dumbfounded. And more than slightly mesmerized.

    "___Way to go Casanova. Just how many more do you plan on conquering?"

    Ibex suddenly popped out from under the bed, snapping Ice out of his reverie.

    "Come off it man. And for the record, that wasn''t like me. At all! I''m really not that smooth. I don''t know what came over me. I''m not ''that'' kind of character. Really!"

    "___Sure you aren''t. I''m not reprimanding you or anything. You''re just experiencing the bittersweet pangs of youth."

    "I don''t even know if you''re actually sincere or just being sarcastic."

    "___What? You look the part anyway... Cherry boy."

    "Aaaargh!"

    Ice grabbed his head with both hands and groaned in frustration, realizing that it''ll be a long and agonizing while before Ibex decides to let go of the issue.

    ***

    After a few days, a group of several carriages departed from Ricksvale castle and headed eastward. Ice''s journey towards the rediscovery of student life was finally underway.

    -Chapter 17 End

 Arc 1 Epilogue: Beyond the Veil

    A stern looking figure was poring over several streams of data with furrowed brows. He had been one of the pioneers that had played a large part in organizing the veritable chaos that surged after the advent of ADs. He had encountered several situations that had threatened the order they had managed to establish after that chaos - most pressing of which was the day ''he'' decided to revolt.

    That had been the turning point. The sense of security that they had held after reigning in and taking control of the veritable monster that held boundless promise had never been so utterly challenged as much as that time. They thought they had finally put it behind them. That the fires were all quenched. It looks like they were wrong.

    An orderly looking young man entered the sparsely furnished room he used as his office and pulled up additional holo-windows through the rooms terminal.

    "Sir, it''s the regular report on Priority 1 Case: H-42 regarding AD# 105-2 Zeta." he promptly announced.

    He paused and looked expectantly at the young man that just entered.

    "Go on."

    "Sir. We''ve received reports that one of our Local Overseer''s ''collaborators'' had gone rogue and attempted to eliminate the forcefully injected Unit without any authorization. The matter had already been dealt with by one of our external subcontractors."

    The wrinkles on the stern looking man''s forehead deepened at the news.

    "Oh? Is that so? I do hope you managed to gather further data on the subject in order to confirm whether or not it truly poses a threat to ''The System''. And if normal means really would result in a Forced Lock-Out."

    "We''ve received some from the aforementioned subcontractor. It''s still slightly inconclusive for now. But they did post someone to observe the subject and gather the necessary data."

    "What''s the name of this subcontractor?" the stern looking man asked.

    "Alterion Agency sir." came the prompt reply.

    "Alterion? The one headed by the young former heir of the Lindblum consortium is it?... Can they be trusted?"

    "We''ve already made steps to monitor their activities."

    The stern man let out a light sigh and his mouth curved into a somewhat tired looking smile.

    "Good. Continue monitoring the situation. We can''t be either hasty or careless. Proceed with utmost caution. If we''re up against ''him'', there''s no way this is going to be easy. Speaking of which, about the other matter..."

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    "We''ve already begun investigations. We already narrowed it down to a few suspects. I''m sure we''ll finally find out who the traitor from the inside is very soon."

    "Mm... I expect good news."

    "Certainly."

    The young man exited the office after bowing slightly. The figure left inside slumped seemingly on mid air, reclining as if seated on a large yet invisible chair.

    "So you''re finally coming back to haunt us eh. Ghost of Laplace..."

    ***

    Within an endless void space stood two figures.

    "They''ve already started snooping around." chimed a melodious voice that came from a transcendent raven haired beauty. Her every gesture was filled with utterly mesmerizing radiance. Not unlike a goddess from myths of old.

    "Mm... I assume you''ve already taken steps to avoid capture. As much as I hate to admit it, I still do need your cooperation for a bit longer." replied an indistinct ''figure'' that was together with the ''goddess''.

    "What do you take me for?" she retorted indignantly.

    "Of course I''ve made preparations. Try as they might, they won''t be able to catch even a whiff of my scent."

    "Hah! Well I guess it''s as expected of a vixen like you. Shady dealings and goings on are your forte after all." came the sarcastic reply.

    "You wound me. Honestly, why are you just so stubborn? You old tsundere!"

    The ''goddess'' arched her elegant eyebrows and retorted with a wry smile.

    "Say what you like. Anyway, it seems that things are proceeding smoothly."

    "Yes. Everything is proceeding at a steady pace. We''ve also managed to rope in the former ''young master'' of Lindblum."

    The indistinct figure gave an impression as if ''he'' had raised ''his'' eyebrows in mild surprise.

    "That actually worked? Still, we can''t expect him to cooperate until the end. After all, our goals may seem to intersect, but they can never be more different."

    The ''goddess'' smiled bewitchingly.

    "Don''t worry. I have confidence in my persuasiveness. I''m sure that young man would prefer our methods as opposed to his. After all, we do not wish destruction. Only change."

    The cogs move ever faster.

    To what end... was still uncertain.

    -Arc 1 End-

 Arc 2 Prologue: Shattered Soul

    Horrified screams and violent growls resounded within his ears. Crimson rivers of blood filled his vision. The smell of burning flesh crept through his nostrils. The taste of iron spread within his mouth.

    Within the maelstrom of chaos and carnage came an opportunity to flee.

    An opportunity created through the sacrifices of the ones he held most dear.

    And he took it.

    He had never regretted anything so much as he had that night. Only the feeling of the small hand that he held on to kept him from turning back and spurned him ever further from the hidden glade he once called home.

    ***

    They had fled for days without food, rest nor sleep. His people prided themselves in their strength and resilience. That pride had once been broken. But they had endured, dreaming of the day they once again reclaim their lost glory.

    But all those thoughts seem so far away now. Dillusions of grandeur held by dreamers and fools.

    He grasped the small hand that still clung desperately to his own ever tighter. She was all he had now. And he swore to keep her from all harm with his life.

    Alas, the fates can be utterly cruel. He had promised to protect her. But even she had been taken from him in the end.

    He howled in boundless grief.

    ***

    He had been chased towards a labyrinthine cavern that provided refuge within its meandering tunnels. But he was already utterly spent. He had sensed something within him begin to break.

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    Still, he continued to flee mindlessly. He went ever deeper within the cave towards the darkest depths. Instinct was telling him to restrain himself before it was too late. He was so set on his efforts that he had ignored the weak tendrils of thoughts that attempted to reach out to him desperately.

    Deeper he went. And deeper still. Towards all encompassing darkness.

    ***

    He had already lost his sense of time. Within the darkness, every moment seemed like an eternity. There, within the depths, he had gradually lost himself. The memories of powerlessness and despair battered him without mercy. It was too much to bear.

    Then finally, what was suppressed broke free. And with it came both elation and agony.

    He unleashed a guttural cry towards the heavens he could not even gaze upon. He felt boundless rage overcome him.

    An all consuming rage

    An impulse was welling up inside him. Something which the last vestiges of his eroded sense of self desperately tried to suppress.

    He wanted to break everything.

    He wanted to break the world...

    -Arc 2 Prologue End-

 Regarding the Long Hiatus

    Hello people. As you can see, I''m still alive and kicking.  Unfortunately, I still can''t say the same for 3D/2D.

    I''ve been steadily piling up chapters and had originally planned to release a few earlier. But, upon checking them, I kinda felt that there were plenty of things that still needed improvement.

    Thus, I decided to put things on hold for the time being and research more on VRMMO based fictions. I feel this would be for the best in the long run. I want to improve my writing style and deliver a more cohesive and enjoyable reading experience.

    On a side note, I kinda posted another of my works here on Royal Road. It''s titled Prometheus Code and it''s a crazy concoction I came up with on the side while in the middle of writing my other works.

    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Before I knew it, I kinda finished an entire arc lol^^ Don''t expect too much though. It was written partly because I needed a kind of breather and it''s a crazy hodge podge of elements from several series I''m currently caught up in/reread/rewatched/replayed.

    I''ll be releasing this one steadily cause I''m an underhanded bastard who likes his stalling tactics a tad too much lol^^

    Anyway, thank you all for reading. As an amateur author, having guys follow my works, no matter how the numbers are, tickles my heartstrings. I really appreciate it.

    Cheers mates!