As I opened the door, various smells wafted around the room. Some smells are very sweet and there is also stench that is very strong, enough to make someone vomit. Steeling my resolve, I went inside.

I can only say one word if I want to describe the place ‘Messy’. Pile of books lying everywhere, and papers crumpled on the floor and to top it off it is very dark inside the room. There are also various ingredients on the top of the shelves and were not very organized. I continued walking while enduring the smell, there I found a girl sleeping at the counter.

“Uum… hello?”

I tried to call her but she didn’t respond so I call her again this time a little bit louder.

"HELLO!!!"

As if surprised the girl jump out from her position resulting in her crashing at the pile of books next to her.

“Wha-what...Fire!?”

She started shouting while hastily looking around. What a really a cute reaction for an NPC. Really this NPC’s have really human-like reaction; just how far did humanity advanced in technology?

As I was admiring the greatness of human development when I noticed the girl started crawling towards her desk and then hides, crouching while holding her head with her hands.

Eh? Isn’t something wrong here?

“DIDN’T YOU JUST SHOUT FIRE!? THEN WHY THE HELL ARE YOU HIDING THERE? THIS ISN’T A FREAKING

EARTHQUAKE!?”

“Hiiii!”

I couldn’t stop myself from shouting.

Surprise by my voice, the girl shrieked. After a while, noticing everything is fine she stood up while patting her dress, acting like nothing happened. She looks at me while tilting her head and said

“Wrong?”

“Obviously! What you did is for earthquake not fire!”

“Mmm……..You, who?”

“Eh ah yeah….. My name is Hein, Hein Vilestone. I want to buy some potions”

“Vilestone?”

“Yeah, I am the adopted son of Draig Vilestone”

“Hm….potion, what?”

What’s with this taciturn girl? Is the scene from a while ago just an illusion? A dream?

“Health potion”

“Low tier 1 silver coin, middle tier 10 silver coins, no high tier potions”

So expensive! Isn’t this potion very expensive? Right now I only had 2 silver coins left. Should I haggle after all?

“No haggle…..”

She suddenly said as if reading my mind. Without a choice, I let out a deep breath and took the 2 silver coins from my pocket.

“2 low tier potions please”

Quietly she took the money and gave me two red colored bottles. I took it and put it in my bag. Already acquired what I came for, I decided to leave but before that

“Hey”

“Want, else?”

“Should I help you clean?”

For a while the girl just stared at me as if hesitating whether she would respond or not.

Then…

“No need”

“I see”

Thus I answer her as I picked up the books littered in the floor one by one and piled it at the side.

“No need”

The girl said again. This time I ignore her and continue cleaning. I’m actually not a busy body that tends to mind other business but this is different. In fact I’m pretty used with her attitude and behavior who always say ‘No’ but in fact they sometimes meant the opposite. I once had a sister like that back in the orphanage that is just like her. I guess I just did it on a habit.

“………….”

The girl just watched me as I was tidying up the place. After a while, maybe bored, the girl helped me clean. In an instant the once messy room transformed into a very clean and organized room.

“Done!”

I muttered while smiling as if an artist admiring his artwork.

“Thank you”

The girl quietly said.

Ho, isn’t she a pretty nice girl…

“You’re welcome”

I pick up my bag which I put at the side off the room and leave but as soon as I opened the door the girl stopped me.

“Here…”

She said while giving me 2 crimson bottles.

“What’s this?”

“Gratitude, Middle tier potions”

Hm? She’s giving me 2 middle tier bottles just like that?

“No need, I only did it of my own volition, there’s no need to feel indebted”

“But…”

I moved closer to her and pat her head. Ah so nostalgic, I always do this to my little sister when she is in a bad mood…

“It’s fine, just a thank you is enough”

“…………”

She didn’t say anything but her face flushed or is it just my imagination maybe?

“Then I’ll be going, thanks and take care”

“Sheira”

“hm?”

“Name, Sheira”

Ah, I see she’s giving me her name…

“A beautiful name, then Good bye Sheira”

“Mmm, bye Hein”

And I left the shop while waving my hand towards her who is standing there.

---00---

Keeping down my sudden impulse to hum a tune, I headed straight to the gate. As I was walking in the plaza, I

noticed a very old woman sitting in the corner while asking for food.

A beggar?

Unlike the players and users who is dressed in beginners clothes, this old woman was wearing a very tattered and ragged old clothes so she is definitely not a player but an NPC. But a beggar NPC? Strange…

I tried to ignore her and continued walking towards my destination but while walking I felt a very strange and weird feeling surging up in my chest. It is a very uncomfortable feeling like my heart is being crushed by something.

Is this what they call conscience?

Ah mou…!?

I turned around and walked towards the old woman. I am not a hypocrite but this weird feeling welling inside of me is very hard to endure and for some reason whenever I saw the face of the old woman I always remember the smiling face of mother superior.

Am I missing her?

With these indescribable feelings inside of me, I took out the lunch box mother made for me and gave it to the old woman.

“It’s nothing much but please have this”

At first the old woman was looking at me very surprised as if she saw a ghost and then suddenly tears welled up in the corner of her eyes… geh…!? As soon as I saw that she was crying my heart sunk as if an arrow suddenly pierced my heart.

“sobs...'re....ck....Sobs.....ank you....sobs”

She muttered while eating and crying at the same time. Seeing her eating happily, I was satisfied and left.

I was already in a fair distance from the old woman when I heard something

“Wait…”

I turned around and saw the old woman running towards me, eh no, something is very different from her.

“Is there something wrong?”

I ask bewildered by the old woman’s actions. Don’t tell me she still wants to ask more food? Don’t be ridiculous, I already gave her all the food mom gave me. Right now I only have 9 beginner hard breads left.

With my heart wildly beating, I braced myself and look at the old woman; or maybe not-so old woman, in front of me. But contrary to my expectations the old woman took something out from her tattered clothes and

“Here, I want you to take this. As you can see I don’t have anything except this ring so I can only give you this...and it seems this ring wants to be with you.”

“No, no, no I can’t accept that. I only give you some food, I am not expecting anything nor won’t I ask for any compensation”

“No I want you to have this. May this ring help you and help you in times of your needs”

“But…”

“Please take this”

Beaten by her unyielding persuasion, I reluctantly took the ring from her hand. I noticed that she was smiling happily, although it feels as if she was much younger than what I saw just a little while ago.

Now that I can see it up close, this ring has a really ominous vibes in it. The ring was made pure black and in the center of the ring was a face of a devil with two horns on its forehead; it feels as if the devil was boiling in anger.

This ring is really scary!

Is this cursed or something?

“Just what is…..”

I tried asking the old woman but she was already long gone. I couldn’t find her anywhere… baffled by this sudden turn of events; I again focused my attention at the ring. I couldn’t read the name because it only shows ???

Then I remember my appraisal skill. I hurriedly activated my skill. First try: failed, second try: failed, I was getting impatient is my skill level not enough?

I decided to give up after one last try but then

“Appraise”

The jet black ring glowed and a new notification window appeared.

It’s a success!

All-Appraisal Skill Leveled up!

Hahaha yeah! Awesome!

Feeling ecstatic about the skill level up, I read the description of the ring. For a moment I froze.

Cursed ring of Wrath (Unique)

Durability: 2,000/2,000

One of the 7 rings worn by the 1st Demon Lord of Darkness. When the Demon Lord was defeated by the summoned Hero, the Cursed accessories scattered throughout the continent.

To activate one must feel anger towards the enemy. It is rumored that this ring has an ability to draw the user's inner self.

Effects: + 100 STR

+60 AGI

When activated:

300% Additional Damage

300% Additional Defense

Skill:[ Dance of the Mad God ]

CAUTION: if drowned by hatred when activated, it is possible that one might lose one’s self and consciousness and become a mindless slaughterer.

What!!!!!!!

Th-this ring is a unique tier item? Most of all what’s with this insane additional damage? Does this mean this will triple my attack power and defense when used?

Damn it! Did I just hit big time? Did I just found a diamond without knowing and thinking it's just a pebble?

Although I should always watch myself when using this or else I would lose my mind.

Wait, I have the unique skill then is it possible to avoid such terrifying after effect? This skill’s forced me to remain calm so I wouldn’t not be consumed by hatred right? Then isn’t as if this item is made solely for me? hahaha with this I will become a heavy damage dealer!

This is really perfect for me! oh yeah, I’m very lucky!

Without much hesitation I immediately equipped the ring.

Forgetting that strange old woman, I continue my way towards the gate while humming happily at the unexpected gain.