Chapter 2 - First Quest

After a bright light, Metehan found himself in a wreck town. The buildings were in a very bad shape and so the people were. It felt like a town that just got out of a battle.

There were also people with relatively better outfits who makes funny moves. They were probably players who just started the game just like him. The wreck state of the town had made him forget where he was. Yes, Metehan was now in a virtual world! What he sees, hears and feels wasn’t real! The extreme realism that he was experiencing had made him forget that fact for a moment. First he tried to lift his right hand and he could do it. And then he tried to lift his other hand, his right and left legs, walk, jump, punch and many other moves. He could do them so naturally that as if he was in the real world. After he tried everything he possibly could, someone grabbed his hand from behind. When he turned back, he saw a little kid around 10 years old grabbing his hand.

"Please help me.” The kid said with a trembling voice. The kid had ragged clothes as the rest of the people in the town. His face was black and blue as if he was recently beaten up. Metehan had remembered his old days when he saw the kid like that. He would be beaten up and his money would be stolen by the delinquents and on the top of that he would be scolded by his parents for not being able to protect himself. That’s why he doesn’t like his family too much. He doesn’t even talk with them unless it is absolutely necessary. His family was quite busy with their businesses so he wouldn’t have any chance to talk with them anyway. Even though he was the only child of the family, he didn’t get much parental love so maybe that was one of the reasons he had such a low self-confidence.

That’s why he was quite shaken when he saw the kid. The extreme realism of the game also was one of the reasons. He grasped the kid’s hand with his two hands and fell onto one of his knees. "Of course. I’d like to help you anyway I can." Metehan said that with a gentle voice, looking into the eyes of the kid with warm eyes.

“Will you really help me? I asked many people like you before. They first agreed to help but later on they said they couldn’t. You wouldn't act the same way, would you? I am running out of time. It must be done before my dad comes back from the hunt.” the kid said with a restless attitude.

"I will do anything to help you in my power. So don't worry about it. Just tell me what you need me to do.” Metehan said with a reassuring tone.

“During the Great Invasion, my mom was killed by the monsters. The only heirloom left from my mom was her necklace. My dad keeps this necklace inside a box in a hidden place in the house. Sometimes he would take it out and stare at it for hours. I figured out the hidden place of the box at one of these times. My dad occasionally goes to hunt in order to feed us. I feel anxious during these times so I take my mom's necklace and wear it. It feels warm and dissipates my anxiousness. But today I ran into Ted The Bully. He is a bully in the town who beats up the weak kids and steals from them. He beat me and stole my mom's necklace. Please take it back from Ted before my dad comes back. If my dad finds out about it, he might attack Ted and get in trouble with Ted's dad. His dad is the former Captain of the City Guards and the current leader of the Strong Guys Gang. They are villains even the City Guards can't dare to lay a hand on. I have nothing to offer you but I really need your help. I have nobody else to help me." The kid had started to cry. Metehan was also touched by the scene and his eyes had become watery as well. He could understand the helplessness the kid felt. He had felt the same way when he was being beaten up by the delinquents during his Middle School life. The feeling of frustration and not being able to do anything about it. It was the worst feeling a person could experience. That's why he wanted to help the kid without expecting anything in return. He didn't care how hard it was. He was not the same guy now. He was strong now. He could protect the ones in need. Nobody helped him when he needed but he was going to help. He didn't want anybody else to go through the same sufferings. It was unforgivable for the strong to do whatever they want to the weak just because they can. While Metehan had these thoughts, a window had popped up in front of him.

[Quest : Urgent Request of Orphan Mario]

Mario is an orphan who lost his mother during the Great Invasion. He lives in Semerkant City with his father. Ted is a resident of the city who beats up the kids weaker than him and steals from them. He stole a heirloom, the necklace of Mario’s mother, from him.

Mario asks you to take it back from Ted before his father returns from the hunt. But you should be careful. Ted is the son of Lorenzo, the leader of the Strong Guys Gang. It is a gang terrorizing the city. Lorenzo is the former Captain of the City Guards, who turned into an evil man after the Great Invasion. That’s why even the City Guards can’t dare to lay a hand on him.If Lorenzo finds out that you are threatening Ted, he might come after you.

Restrictions: You must bring the necklace of Mario’s mother before his father returns from the hunt. Mario’s father will come back from hunt in a day. If you can’t, you will fail the quest and you can’t take it again.

Difficulty : F

Do you accept the quest?

This sudden window was startled him. This was the first time he saw something like that. Everything felt very real so far that he had forgotten that this was a virtual reality until this window popped up.

‘A quest! I had read about it on the net. So that is how it is.’ Metehan started to read it carefully. It seemed a little dangerous because Ted was son a gang leader but he wanted to help Mario no matter what.

"Please, stop crying. I will take back your mother's necklace from Ted no matter what. I swear on my life.” Those words made Mario stop crying and gave a bright smile on his face.

+You accepted the quest.

Metehan left Mario to find Ted after he took the quest. He found Ted in an back alley beating up a kid after he asked around the town. Ted had a big body for his age. He was beating up a kid with a small and weak body. That scene made Metehan very angry. He was planning to convince Ted with sweet talk. Ted’s father was a gang leader and former Captain of the City Guards. City Guards were very powerful NPCs. And he was their captain. His power was undoubtedly beyond Metehan. But he forgot everything when he saw Ted. He approached Ted from behind and landed a punch on the back of his neck.

+Backstab.

+Critical hit.

+You inflicted %200 damage.

+Battle Phase is active.

Ted had fallen into a confused state lying on the ground because of the hit to his nape and the kid he was beating ran away. After a short while of confused state, Ted put himself together and stood up.

"Who the hell are you?! How dare you hit me?! Do you fucking know who I am?!" Ted shouted with an arrogant attitude. However what he got in return was a punch on his face. Since Battle Phase was activated, Metehan could see the basic information of Ted. Level 3, HP %85, Mana %100. Those were Ted’s basic informations. Ted’s name was written in grey. Ted’s level was higher than Metehan but he was quite weak for his level. Even though one of them was a critical attack, he could drop his HP to %85 with just two hits.

'He isn’t a big deal even though he is level 3. Is it because he is a kid?’ In Royal Blood Online, even though level was an important factor, it wasn’t everything. The combat experience, skills, mental and physical conditions were also important. Metehan kept on beating Ted who was confused because of the hit on his face. Ted couldn’t do anything to resist and his HP had dropped to %5 in less than a minute.

"Please stop!" Metehan had stopped punching when Ted cried with a begging voice.Ted continued with a bruised face. "I am sorry for being rude to you. I am really reflected on my mistake. So please forgive me.”

The reason why Metehan was punching him wasn’t because of his rude attitude, it was because he was bullying kids. But Ted couldn’t understand that so what he said had pissed him off even more. However if he kept on punching him, Ted could die and Metehan couldn’t relieve his anger and may fail the quest. It wasn’t like he was sure that Ted was carrying it with him after all. It might not drop even if he killed him The quest information didn’t contain the specifics about how he was gonna take it back. So Metehan pretended to forgive him and started to wait for Ted’s HP to recover. When he relieved his anger a little, he was planning to interrogate him.

After 10 minutes in game-time, Ted had recovered fully and was preparing to leave. But Metehan had no intention of letting him go. So he started to punch him again. Ted couldn’t understand why he was punching him again and shouted. “Why are you punching me again?! I already apologized. Tell me what I did wrong!” But Metehan kept punching him until Ted’s HP dropped to 5% again.

After Metehan stopped to punch him, Ted asked again lying on the ground.“Why are still punching me? I don’t understand. Please tell me.” Metehan didn’t respond and continued to stare at Ted. After Ted’s HP recovered to %50, Ted tried to escape but Metehan caught him and punched until his HP dropped to %5. This has repeated 5 times. Ted had already given up on escaping and started to beg. “Please Big Brother, stop it already. I will do anything you want. Just stop it already.” Metehan had finally snapped and said: “Did you understand how the kids felt while you were beating them?”

After those words, Ted had finally figured out why he was beaten him up. That person was punishing him for bullying the kids! Ted actually hadn’t thought about it. He was risen that way after all. “Strong is just and being weak is a sin.” Those were his father’s words. So what he’s been doing wasn’t practically anything wrong. That’s why he had never considered how the kids he had been beating up would feel. But now he knew how they felt. He had felt frustrated. Not being able to do anything to stop it. It was a terrible feeling. Those kids must have felt that way too. Ted had finally understood it. It was unfair to beat up the weak people just because you can. He had regretted for what he’s been doing. He had wanted beg forgiveness from them and make amends. And at that time, some system notifications had started to pop up in front of Metehan.

+Ted has been rehabilitated. Ted realized what he has been doing was wrong thanks to you. He empathized the sufferings of the kids he has been bullying. He repented and wanted to make amends for his sins from the bottom of his heart. His alignment will stay chaotic grey but it may turn to white through his good deeds.

+Since you rehabilitated a chaotic grey person, you earned 50 Contribution Points.

+You earned the title of Guide of the Lost Souls. All stats has risen by +1 and your Fame has risen by 100.

+Due to the special actions, a new skill has been created; Guidance.

Metehan was thrilled while he was reading the notifications. He wasn't expecting this. All he wanted was to relieve his anger. But he got a skill and title in return. He also gained bonus stat points and Fame as well. He checked his new skill in excitement.

Guidance (Passive, Beginner 1 | %0): Guiding lost souls is a tough job. Since not all of them are aware of their conditions, you will need strength to subdue them in order to guide them to the right path.

When you are in Battle Phase against chaotic NPCs or players, all stats +%20, HP and MP recovery rate +%5 per 10 seconds, HP and MP fully recovered at the activation of the Battle Phase.

'Woah! This is an amazing skill! It has a %20 boost to my stats. It will give me great advantage against PK players. Moreover %5 HP and MP recovery is a huge bonus during a battle. Normally unless I sit and do nothing for a while, my HP and MP won’t recover. Even then I only get a %10 per minute recovery rate. This gives me a %30 per minute recovery rate! And it is only Beginner Level 1! I image that it will grow when my skill level increased. With this, no player will dare to attack me!' He was thrilled again when he saw the skill. Then he wanted to check his bag and stats. Since he took a quest right after he connected, he didn't have the chance. He first checked his bag. He had a sword and 10 wheat breads in his bag. He took out the sword and used the basic identification skill every class has; Inspect.

[Novice Short Sword]

Type : One-Handed

Attack : 3~5

Attack Speed : 5

Durability : [25/25]

Weight : 2

Requirements

Level : 1

Strength : 20

Agility : 15

Class : None

A light sword for novices. It doesn't have high attack and durability.But it will be useful for novices.

'I guess it is better than nothing.' Metehan equipped the sword and checked his stat window.

Status WindowNameMetehanRaceHumanGenderMaleClassWarriorSubClassNoneProfessionNoneSubProfessionNoneTitles[/td4]Guide of the Lost Souls[td2]Level1Experience0%Fame100AlignmentWhite---Satiety90%Fatigue5%Attack16-18Attack Speed9Critical Hit Rate0.2%Maximum Weight13Defence7Evasion Rate1%CP50GP0HP220/220MP60/60Stamina150/193---Strength26Agility21Vitality21Luck11Wisdom11Intelligence11Leadership11Charisma6

After Metehan finished checking his stats, he turned to Ted. "Hey, if you really want to make amends, you should start with returning the necklace of Mario's mother." Metehan said with a cold expression.

"Of course, but I gave it to my dad and I don't think he would give it back to me just because I asked him. Big Brother, I need your help. My dad has many items I stole from the kids. I want to give them all back to the rightful owners. And I also wish my dad and other uncles with him would realize what they’ve been doing was wrong. But I can't do it alone. I need your help, Big Brother. Please guide them to the right path just like you did for me." Suddenly a window popped up in front him.

[Quest: Ted’s Sincere Request]

Committing a sin is easy but repenting it is not. Not many people have the courage to repent them and try to become a better person. But Ted is one of them.

Ted was a bully who beats up the weak kids and steals from them. But he repented his sins thanks to the guidance of you. He asks you you to guide his father and other gang members to the right path. He can return the stolen things to the rightful owners if you do. And the necklace of Mario’s mother is one of them.

Restrictions : This is chain quest that starts with [Quest : Urgent Request of Orphan Mario]. If you reject or fail this quest, you will also fail [Quest : Urgent Request of Orphan Mario].

Difficulty : E+

Reward : The Necklace of Mario’s Mother.

Do you accept the quest?

‘An E+ difficulty quest? If I remember correctly, the quests with ‘+’ difficulties are quests that requires a group to complete it. But I don’t know anyone in Royal Blood Online and I don’t want to know either.’ His asocial nature had kicked in. Metehan didn’t like being around people. He would feel nervous while talking to people. But strangely he didn’t feel that way while talking to Mario. Still he didn’t want to interact with players. ‘I guess with this new skill I gained, I might overcome it without needing other player’s assistance, even though its difficulty increased to E+. I don’t want to give up here. After I completed this quest, I will be able to complete Mario’s quest as well. Let’s give it a shot.’ Metehan decided to accept the quest. “Okay, I will help.”

+You accepted the quest.

Royal Blood Online