Chapter 5: 5: It's not fair

"Something interesting, you say?" Layla fished out a brown book out of her robes.

She put it on the desk, then flipped pages. Her hand was flipping carelessly, but her eyes flashed with magic, and she read every page wholly.

Her book contained everything shop-related.

"I have been an independent mage for around half a year now. It's not easy, you know?" Layla said, then her finger suddenly tapped the page, stopping the flipping.

"Well, I am just a haughty seventeen years old youngster. Don't expect too much from me, okay?" Reylin chuckled.

"Young and in a new world. I guess this will be a good quest for you," Layla responded.

She flicked the page, and it turned into a system message appearing in Reylin's eyes. His eyes squinted, and he began reading it, so Layla inferred he received the message.

It was a new world for players but a new situation for the NPCs.

Although they had been living with their own systems for a few months, it was the first day they used those for the players. And those players were the reason for the system, to begin with.

She never tested giving quests as it didn't work for their own kind.

NPCs kept their own ways, at least for now.

And that was a contract!

[Layla's Errand; The Investigation in the Northern Rivers Bank. (???)]

[Lv. requirements: Unknown.]

[One of Layla's magic ores providers has been facing problems in his mine for a month! In the beginning, many thought that the local gangs or bandits were the cause. Still, upon further investigation, the residents found a much more complicated organization behind it.]

[First Objective: Investigate the unknown organization.]

[Reward: 500 EXP, Layla's Friendship +10, Fire Whip Skill(E).]

Ding!

[You have learned about friendship! Click for further information.]

[Second Objective: Eliminate the unknown organization.]

[Reward: 3500 EXP, Layla's Friendship +50, Layla's Fire Mana Research Notes(S).]

"Oh! Friendship! Well, but of course! I would become much friendlier with a hard-working and cute guy like you," Layla responded to the quest log first.

Reylin shook his head, "Does the system read your heart? What do you think about it?" He asked about her feelings about the system rather than the quest log.

For Reylin, those quests were all cleared already, and if some obstacle appeared, he would level up and get enough strength to get all rewards from her!

Thus, he asked about Layla's feelings, with a tinge of curiosity toward her 'intelligence'.

How far had the game development gone? That was the question.

"We are both pretty indifferent toward each other, aren't we? It doesn't take a genius to realize it. Well, if I had some ulterior motive, I would have been bothered, but that's not the case. Do I look like a criminal?" Layla replied in a relatively safe way.

Reylin laughed, "I don't judge others by their appearance or race. Though, if it's in my favor or mood, I do not mind taunting a little. People are often too bothered by their origins, Layla."

"Hmm." Layla crossed her arms beneath her ample chest, and her expression turned pensive.

"I will have fun in that Northern River Bank then." Reylin turned around, ready to leave the shop.

He noticed the lazy lady waving at him for the safe trip through the corner of his eye due to Layla and Reylin having a peaceful talk. No more job, no more moving, and the lazy woman was all happy.

However, newbie players flooded all shops, and Layla's shop would soon share the same fate.

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Oh, how poor, Monica!

"Wait for a second," Layla raised her hand and called Reylin back, "You see, I also wanted to put a penalty on you, but it didn't work. Do you have a guess why?"

"Penalty? Might be because I am low level, or I just have newbie protection," Reylin thought for a second before replying.

"Newbie protection? Are you protected by the Ascended?" Layla asked.

"The Ascended? Well, I guess they are the main quest I should receive soon. Them, or those dark times. To be blunt with you, The Newbie Protection is given to new players so that they just enjoy the game, in your case, the world." Reylin shrugged.

"That's... not so fair... You can not die, and you have so many benefits... What about us?" Layla asked genuinely, and hearing her serious voice blending with a bit of bitterness, Reylin didn't joke around and replied, "Leverage on players, dear Layla. Learn the gaming terms to not get swindled, then use them to your advantage. It should be fairly easy at this stage. After your quest, I will pass some knowledge to you."

With this, Reylin turned heels and left the magic shop.

Left alone with her master, Monica said, "Master didn't give him a contract. If there's no penalty from the system, then the contract should do it."

"I was a little overwhelmed, I think?" Layla awkwardly replied.

"He said he will teach you some gaming knowledge, so he will do it," Monica purred and closed her eyes, "I sensed it from him. He was serious."

"Monica... You aren't an animal." Layla rolled her eyes and stood up to return to her study room.

At that time, Monica replied, "I wish I was an animal, though." And closed her eyes, imagining a life with herself curled up in the bed.

But in the next few seconds, the doors sprang open, and an army of new players flooded the magic shop!

"Oh my god! This is..." The players heard the purring human, and their eyes widened, "Moe Cat!"

"She has no cat ears, though!"

"So what?! Cat women can take 100% humanoid form, just as they can revert to their animal forms! What are you, non-believer?!"

"This is it! We have found her! Our Goddess!"

Monica's eyes snapped, and she slowly replied, "You wanna quests? We have errand quests."

"Will do!"

-

After Reylin left the shop, he noticed how rampant other players were. To not even have a little to do with them, Reylin didn't stay idle and went for a walk. He kept his eyes on the system, mainly the minimap.

The map displayed the beginner city and even notified him of the most important facilities such as the royal house, the churches, and the training grounds. It appeared after he received his first quest, and it seemed like he became a proper citizen of the city.

"Whole city map was revealed just like that, but I still have to explore on my own. Might as well take that lazy woman on a walk later on then." Reylin jested.

On his way to leave the city, Reylin found out about the mage's union, and he burst out laughing at fate.

Had he gone a little further, he would have had a different experience, and who knew what other established mages would react to his arrogant display. If one wasn't so sure about their abilities and meekly went with the flow, one would miss many opportunities.

And the nice guys were often used, so there was that.

Reylin passed next to their facility.

As the beginner's city's walls loomed over the horizon and its might became more apparent in every resident and players' eyes, Reylin was just a few steps from leaving the city before another resident called him out.

"Hey! Are you going outside? What's your level? If you want, I can give you a ride!" The resident smiled brightly.

"Level three. I am not interested in the monsters around the walls." Reylin peeked at their level from afar, and level one monsters weren't on his list.

The resident raised his hat, "Then, I welcome you aboard! All you have to do is sign this contract!"

"Contract, you say?" Reylin smiled widely.

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