Gamer Chapter 38 - Turning Back

Ha. Accidentally had his Gamer level at 9, when its supposed to be 10.
As usual this chapter was written by gerbils, they get a treat for every reply!
Someone offered to PR, but exams came up and suddenly it turned into a week.. So while I do have the next chapter mostly written, I'm still going to see if they want to PR it so I wouldn't expect it real soon.

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Leaving the sleeping heroes behind, I pushed my backpack into my inventory window, a little curious and somewhat experimenting if it would work. Strangely the backpack seemed to shrink where it should hit the inventory window, shrinking to fit inside the smaller portal.
Somewhat curious that it worked, though I did notice that the number that appears on other items in my inventory didn't appear here, the count that is. Item is too large to stack? Makes the most sense, game-logic wise anyways. But what are the rules? The limits? Does this even matter? Find out next time on Inventory Experiments!
With the weight on my back reduced I didn't even bother changing clothes as I rapidly descended the stairs. As I moved towards the exit I ignored the innkeeper as he called out to me, asking me if I would be returning. Not his business.
I noticed as I left the inn that the sun was setting, and as I began to jog lightly through the streets the people began to thin out as they closed shops and went home. The waking hours in this world began and ended at the sun's whim.
Easily finding the town gates, I left with minutes to spare before they closed, the guards yelling out after me that they were not going to open up again until dawn, am I stupid?!
As the sun slowly descended to kiss the earth I moved faster, setting a gruelling pace I was confident in keeping, almost a full out sprint. I had my eye on my stamina, and I was most pleased to notice that it regenerated a little more than I could consume.
That is to say, it hovered under full.
The night air blew as the light began to disappear, my feet churning as I rapidly made distance over the hot dirt road. It wasn't until the stars were out and the ground was no longer warm that I slowed to a halt and quickly glanced around. No one was about and rea.s.sured of this I summoned my inventory and changed into my dark robes, throwing my dirty clothes into another slot.
My inventory currently consisted of a 5x5 grid of slots, that is to say. 25 slots.
I had somewhere around 9 slots dedicated towards carrying stones, three for each size from pebbles to fist sized, all maxed at a 99 capacity. One slot for the satchel that contained two fancy rocks and 1-2 empty water bottles, another for my dead laptop and another for my club.
That's 12 slots, I had another filled with 48 water bottles, another dedicated to my spear and another for my tent. One for my private entertainment material, which came in handy from time to time.. And another for a collection of fantasy books, I currently had about 40 of those. Half of them read, the other half not really picking up my interest.
That's 17 slots, as for the remaining slots I had three black robes in one slot and another slot with the generic name 'Skillbooks' which contained books I had picked up back in the palace. Another slot for cooked beef x 88, and yet another which was filled by my request for 93 loaves of bread in the previous world.
The remaining 4 slots are really not worth mentioning, two were empty while the other two contained dirty clothes and now my backpack.
So with a simple thought *Gravity Cloak* I lifted into the air, rising high as I glanced around through the night for the village I knew must be nearby. Thankfully the weather was clear and I easily spotted the faint lights from cl.u.s.ters of houses squatting about a dark road. With a breeze pus.h.i.+ng against my face I began to fly in that direction, high and unseen in the sky.
My speed was fast, growing even faster as I willed it with my mana barely sinking before it quickly recovered back to its maximum. The first bug flew into my face, a sudden impact in my lips and a sour taste as I instinctual licked them.
I flew higher after that, gagging a little from the experience. I quickly checked through my inventory and growled with a small amount of irritation as I realized I had nothing I could use in the way of a winds.h.i.+eld. Not even my inventory worked, the wind still blows through it and another bug splatter soon popped into existence.
It makes me wonder a little though, to place things into my inventory do I need to be holding them? Would intent work? Can I link a spell up? Does it actually need to touch the screen?
But I flew horizontally after that, my hood providing some sort of protection even as I occasionally had to slow down to check my direction.
Houses and villages swooping below me, the very rare bug finding its way as a messy splatter it didn't take long until I saw a great expanse of lit territory, a grand castle raised inside the city with towers that gestured defiance towards the heavens. My gaze was drawn towards the central tower, glowing with the mana that surrounded it in a s.h.i.+mmering haze, more than I had ever seen before.
It seems they had grown cautious since my last visit I mused, floating high in the darkness gazing down at the lit palace below as I studied the changes with a careful gaze.
I wished I had a proper clock or something, something I could use to keep precise track of time. I mean, I'm easily able to tell which hour and roughly which minute it is.. But there's something to be said about an actual clock you can check with, not just a feeling you have.
I don't actually have a way to tell if I'm even right or not, I just know that my own version of time is working off dawn, sunrise and noon. A benefit of INT I suppose. Its been ages since I last saw a working clock, the laptop's internal clock also seemed out of whack last I saw it.
Slowly descending from the sky, I kept my eyes open for near-invisible threads of mana as I approached the tower. A solid meter from the bright aura, I slowly moved around the tower, black robes gently fluttering in the slight breeze as I floated to the brightly light window.
Looking inside cautiously, I felt a little relieved to note that no one was inside. No mages or guards I'd need to worry about later.
Looking at it for a moment, I lightly bit my lip as I considered the path I was going to take with a light frown.
My plans generally don't go well the few times I had made them. So being wise about how plans go awry I didn't even bother this time, ignoring that nigging feeling. But I did know a couple of keypoints I wanted to do, the first was to see about ripping out the entire library, and the second was squas.h.i.+ng a small pest before I leave.
Heh.
Just had a thought.
I could take him with me.
And when I say take him with me, I mean float him high in the sky out of sight and lower him at night to feed and water him before raising him up high again. Cut out his tongue perhaps to prevent any spellcasting?
I'll find him, then we'll see. I suppose I better take care of that first though considering that this tower is almost certainly rigged with alarms, and I have not a single idea on how to disarm them.
Finally moving away from the tower, I sunk lower as I floated to gently and quietly land inside a pitch-black courtyard, avoiding those courtyards lit up already. I hadn't seen this courtyard before, but it wasn't something I worried about as I quietly tested a door for locks.
Opening the barricaded door and wincing at the slight creak of the hinges, I slipped in before throwing my hood back over my head, obscuring half my view even as it prevented others from seeing my face. I had cleaned off the bugs on it, and what remained wasn't noticeable.
*Torchlight* A solid white light blinked into existence, moving to float ahead of me as I began to walk down the corridors. My own shadow stretched behind me, elongated behind me as my feet quietly moved with robes fluttering.
It didn't take long until I saw a lit hallway at which I changed directions and began walking down it, switching directions as easily as breathing. I may be a little lost, but I know where the mages area is at least.
Musing over potential tortures and ways to deal with him as I walked, my hands clasped behind my back as my ears listened for the slightest hint of clanking metal. Almost a sure sign of guards on the move at which I would change directions.
My thoughts and movement halted as I saw a door slowly open, I quickly slipped out of sight even as a girl with blonde hair cautiously peeked out. Looking both ways and a.s.sured of her solitery, she quietly slipped out before closing the door behind her and moving away down the hallway.
I almost grinned a little as I quietly moved behind her, stepping into pace with her movements for a few steps before I dramatically cleared my throat.
"Ahem"
With a shriek of fright, she whirled around with wide eyes and a frightened expression at which I groaned a little, hoping no one would come to investigate the sound.
Trying to stifle her cries isn't a wise move if I want her to trust me, neither is acting aggressively nor should I act nervous. No, instead I just waited for her to calm down, even as she stumbled backwards in fright and ready to run.
A little irritated at her actions I lowered my voice to one I imagined was more manly and spoke out before she could sprint away.
"Do you know where the mage Peter sleeps?"
"N-No" she answered, pausing in her movements and thankfully not running. Her face still looked a bit spooked, but thankfully she seemed to be calming down.
I hummed, staring at her under my cowl as I did so.
You know, now that I look at it her clothes seemed rather ruffled, her hair messed up damp with sweat with a bright flush about her skin. I don't think it was from my scaring her either.
She obviously wasn't wearing lipstick, probably never had. But if she did, then right now I'd be expecting to see it smeared.
I smirked a little to myself, just what had she been doing in there..
"Sir, can I help you?" she asked in a wavering voice, the dark figure standing in front of her menacingly with a sinister smirk on his face, her feet unconsciously moving backwards as she sought retreat.
"Yes" I cleared my throat. "Take me to someone who can show me the way"
"D-Does it have to be me" she cringed, her hands trying to pat down her blonde hair as strands escaped her grasp. Why does she now care about her appearance?
"You can go then, I'll ask the gentleman inside for directions" I waved her off offhandedly, walking and turning to face the door as I stretched out my arm with the obvious intention to knock.
"No!" she frantically hissed, her hands making white fists by her side as her face frantically scrunched in desperation. "I'll do it" she pleaded with me, stepping forwards intending to grasp my arm before I yanked it out of range.
Did she even wash her hands?
"Lead the way then" I quickly stepped back out of reach, looking down on her as she bitterly regretted the timing of her exit.
Resigned to her ch.o.r.e she navigated the way through a few hallways, leading me on a small ten minute journey through lighted halls before finally stopping before a door which seemed to be bigger than the other surrounding doors. Less fancy than the door I had saw her leave from through.
"Head Maid Doira is in there, she'll know where his rooms is" she gestured as she spoke quietly, quickly making a small bow without meeting my eyes as she began to move away "If you'll excuse me.."
As she scurried away down the hallway barefooted I looked at the door and grimaced a little. Authority, I hate authority. Especially for this task.
Perhaps I should just give up on it?
With a small sigh, I readjusted my position as I looked at the door, considering, reconsidering and considering my options yet again.
I don't want to fail the quest, I'm willing to destroy this kingdom but not to fail the quest. The kingdom will disappear, the quest rewards should stay.
No wait. That's a.s.suming that the rewards are given by the system, not by the kingdom.. Logic dictates that the questgiver will obviously cancel the quest on death, or when he no longer wishes to talk to you.
But if they only suspect me.. It shouldn't be cancelled, and while the other heroes won't know about this for a while, shouldn't know for a while. Its still going to be revealed if I must return to the kingdom to claim a prize.
Grah. I really need to find out more how the system works, this isn't as obvious as a normal game. At least it STOPS you from doing the wrong thing. But here? I'm getting basically no hints.
I shouldn't knock on this door I suppose, my getup is suspicious enough and I really don't want it to be known from a reputable source that a mysterious figure had asked for the suddenly missing mage. Its not hard to connect the dots.
I could b.u.mp off this head maid when we are done, but who says she's not going to delegate the task or make contact with guards?
I'm definitely going to need to find him myself. Though I'm not too sure how to find out.
But hey, who knows! I might find another suspiciously messy maid walking barefooted at night who knows exactly where his room is!
As I moved away from the doorway heading down a new corridor I didn't look back, and thus I didn't notice the girl hadn't retreated to her room.