The warmth of the afternoon sun caused the moisture to be sapped from all the air, and a prickly tingle filled the skins of the citizens all going about their daily business; unlike the real world, days flowed much faster inside Astral Online, which caused some people who spent lots of time inside to become confused.
It was the same time, but the day cycle was only 12 hours; even Zell didn't know why the gods made the game this way and didn't care much; playing at night was annoying because there were no light mods, and torches couldn't be changed or equipped during combat, which made you vulnerable.
'Man, today's Elizabeth and Cryska were too intense...' Zell thought as he slowly walked towards the city guard barracks, where his main story indicator guided him.
Inside his head, the first quests were quite vague, and Zell struggled to think what they were, hoping that he didn't have to make someone's meal, kill some boars and collect 12 tufts of some random monster fur.
'Games give the most depressing quests... Imagine doing them in VR... Would be like a real job, or being a damn farmer and working harder than anyone else for a few bronze coins or something....'
"Oh? Is that him... Captain Berthold Brunner?"
Zell spotted the obvious quest NPC; his movements were a little jarring due to him walking the same path all day.
'The quest says he will patrol like this between 1 pm and 6 pm game time, but won't be here on Sundays. Seem's even Brunny boy gets time off.'
Since knowing the game was real and there was a chance all NPCs were actually from other worlds that were destroyed, Zell began to observe some of them when he logged in to practise his metalmancy because in the city, using his black scaled armour, which he decided to label his "Dreadnaught Raiment" thus placed the silver mask over his face, not to hide his identity, but to look cool.
Zell's face looked in the dusty window's reflection, his shorter black hair, messy like someone who had just fought at WrestleMania, dark ruby eyes hidden behind the silver mask that covered his eyes and bridge of his nose with an elegant pattern, the number one written in Cynthia's native language that was like a mix of eastern letters.
He only took a slow pace; rushing was something he did before, but now, Zell tried to observe everything around him, especially in the city, never knowing if he might find a special weapon or item somewhere; these NPCs were sneaky like that.
'That reminds me, Alice sent me several messages over the past week, hoping to fight again... A cute girl; let's make some time to meet her in real life and help her avoid a horrible end.'
Alice was not just a pretty face for Zell; the duel between them helped awaken his desire to improve his power through levelling and killing demons and his combat skill, both in-game and in reality.
Thus since meeting her, once every few days, the girls and Zell would all go to Tessa's dojo and fight each other, no matter if they were a caster type or sword user, each time they fought, it would be a different weapon, from unarmed to an axe.
'I want them to be prepared, in case there's a time I cannot support them or if I might lose...'
Zell didn't want to admit this, but the looming demons seemed to be gauging his power, probing his limits and the gods that have long abandoned him; even Yinfra was out of the loop now; he was partially blind to their plots.
"Well, what comes... I'll protect them all, even if I have to lose an arm or something."
Anya and Tessa were questing with Rika today; they were much further ahead with the main story than him as he made them start in another zone, Europa V, technically Franza.
While Zell approached the guard barracks, Captain Berthold was watching from the makeshift stone wall, which was still being improved and built; his face was quite handsome, a rough look with a long scar across his right eye, two deep blue eyes like the ocean and short, messy greying hair that was very greasy.
He turned around to notice a young man, handsome but half hidden behind a mask that might be working at a masquerade ball; Berthold didn't think much of this as many of the people from Asteria wore strange outfits and helmets.
Instead, the words and conversation given to him by the divines began to come to the front of his mind, like he was hypnotised, the thoughts of Zell's appearance faded, and all he saw was "Quest Seeker" in his vision, a slightly dazed look before he greeted the young man.
"Greetings adventurer, my name is Berthold Bruner, and I am the Captain of the guard. Would you be able to help the city in its time of regeneration and great need?"
'Lad, please forgive me, but I cannot control this. You look powerful with those muscles, but forgive me... The only quest I can offer you is set in stone!'
Berthold still retained his mental freedom, but it was like his mouth and body were taken over by something else, his hands greeting the young lad, then performing a simple salute and greeting; the boy gave the nod, his face a little dull from the reception, only looking at the man with tired eyes like he knew the quest that would be offered would be mundane!
'He's going to do it! Am I going to have to clean a barn or something stupid!?' Zell thought as he looked at the smart captain; suddenly, when he approached, Berthold stopped looking like a normal human/person and became like a robot, a little stiff and acting like he'd practised this line a million times.
"Ah, nice to meet you. I am Z. Do you have any tasks for me to complete? There is nothing I am not willing to do!" Zell spoke with a charismatic and lively voice, following the game's prompt.
You were fucked if you didn't ask using the game prompt with an 80% match; the NPC would stop the interaction; if they were a merchant or trainer, it was okay; they would repeat their offer, but for quest NPCs alone?
They would just reset and return to the beginning of their speech, so if they were a long-winded NPC...
'Lad, don't give me those dead eyes... I cannot help it! I'd send you to battle the undead in the deep south if I could! Or check for remnant vampires and werewolves in the bloodpine and Silverleaf forests!'
"What a fine lad! Just at the right moment, currently, the city is undergoing its regeneration. Still, some pesky creatures are attacking our caravans and stopping the flow of vital goods like stone, ore and meat! Will you accept the task of helping our wonderful Bucan City??"
'What help, it's just killing some damn wolves that can't even make the traders and merchants bat their eyes! The real threats are left alone day after day! What will we do when that horde grows big enough to swarm the city!?'
Zell's face twitched; he knew there would be a stupid quest after all this grandiose posturing, his arms now crossed across his chest as he decided to roleplay when doing the main story. He was an avid roleplayer in the past but couldn't do that with the girls around as it would be embarrassing; Zell wanted to play a stoic warrior, alone and on hard times; thus, even cleaning an old ladies' farm would be accepted.
With a slow nod, the quest was triggered as the box appeared in the corner of Zell's eyesight.
Captain Brunner nodded, his face beaming with a bright smile, almost like a shonen protagonist who is about to set off on his journey to becoming the strongest and find his parents; that kind of face doesn't suit a man who looked to be in his late 30's with a stubble and greying birdnest hair.
"Good, then I will tell you of the grave enemy you must vanquish, young hero!"
'God, please, let me stop this job... I don't want to see these young people look so sad, insulting me under their breath...' Brunner begged inside his mind.
Zell almost collapsed, like he somehow jinxed himself and then remembered the gods hated him, so why did he pray to the gods to make him not fight wolves? What kind of a dunce was he, but stay in character he must!
Ignoring the window, Zell hated meta-gaming; thus, until the man spoke the content, he would remain silent or nod.
"To the east of Bucan, a vile group of man-eating wolves has set foot on our territory, their hunger endless and ferocity unmatched! Please, young hero, can you help our city in its effort to regrow for a brighter future? The reward will be 10 copper for 7 wolves, with an additional copper coin for every 2 wolves you kill."
'FUCK!' Zell screamed, but his face was still flat, handsome and lacking any changes.
'Oh? This lad didn't complain! Good lad, I will give you a meat bun when you finish!'
Brunner would be free of his task when a person completed his two tasks and sent them to Margret, the village witch, to continue the quest toward the south.
Zell's head nodded before he lifted his right arm and placed it on the shoulder of the guard captain, a small smile coming to the corner of his mouth.
"Thank you, Captain Brunner. I will get the task done."
Once his voice faded, Brunner could feel the freedom to his body slowly returning; the next moment, a small whisper came from the handsome lad's lips before he quickly turned away, patting Brunner's shoulder several times before vanishing into the crown like a rogue.
"It must be hard, right, forced to pretend like this every time a new player comes to speak with you... Good work, Captain."
Captain Berthold Brunner watched the boy vanish, a slight tear in his eyes as he pumped his fist in delight.
'He knows! Finally, a player that knows my struggle!'
The next moment another player came close and greeted him, and so the day of Captain Berthold Brunner continued with his opening greeting...
"Greetings adventurer, my name is Berthold Bruner, and I am the Captain of the guard. Would you be able to help the city in its time of regeneration and great need?"
This chapt𝒆r is updated by free(w)ebnovel(.)com