11th April, 1109.

Scurrying around from shops to random people on the street, I completed all the tasks that could be done within a month. Each quest somewhat resembled each other.

Go fetch this or that.

Do this or that act.

That pretty much it. There’s no slay this or that and gather what herbs. Maybe because of the lack of monsters around, so the city is pretty peaceful.

The red haired lady referred to herself as Phy, she took me in and I paid my due to stay for the night. Living on hotels costs so much more than 50 calds. Honestly, the sofa wasn’t so bad. It was comfy and not… smelly. Better than nothing.

Doing these odd jobs earned me quite a lot between 80 to 120 calds per day. I have around 500 calds saved up. It’s not much at all, but for me it’s my life line.

There was no EXP gained. All this time I’m still stuck on level 1. But my stats are different compared to last month. These quests sometimes has bonus rewards for going extra mile doing them. Calds or items are quite common with stats increase as the rarest.

As of the moment, STR is my highest stats with WIS as the second highest. Why WIS is my second highest stats? Beats me.

“What’s that?”

“What?”

“That.”

I pointed my with index finger.

“What about my closet?”

“There’s a uniform inside it.”

Phy’s gaze turned sharp. She seemed unhappy I brought it up.

“...It seems you are tired of living, going through a lady’s belonging like that.”

“Maybe if the place isn’t reek of alcohol, I might not stumble upon things like that.”

Not a single day passed without her drinking a bottle. What’s more annoying is how she drink. She spills alcohol everywhere it’s hard to breathe. I have no other choice but to clean the place up before and after she finished.

It’s annoying, but once every week my stamina increased. So it’s not all bad I guess.

“Ho, for a kid you are pretty cheeky, huh?”

“Forget it.”

She closed her eyes and rubbed her left cheek. What is she thinking now?

“How about this, I will tell you my secret and you tell me yours.”

“What do you mean by secrets?”

She chuckled with crescent eyes.

“Secret, something you don’t want anyone else to know.”

How did things come to this?

“You know. You are not from around here, aren’t you?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Nope. that’s not what I meant.”

She sat on a sofa opposite of me with one eye closed.

“I don’t give a shit how or why did you come here. Your past and what your objectives are, it’s none of my business… The only reason I took you in is because of Brall asked me to do so.

“But you see, there’s something peculiar about you. Something that I can’t ignore no matter what.”

Something about me? Is it my hair again?

“...”

“You came from a different land, did you not?”

“...!”

In that split second, I felt my hands and legs turned cold.

“Perhaps, a different world? A different universe, yes that’s right. The term that he would use.”

“How…?”

“Hah, you don’t even bother to try to hide it!”

She slapped the sofa in glee.

“Your behaviour clearly shows it!”

“My behaviour?”

“Indeed! Why don’t you look at a mirror once in a while?”

“Mirror?”

“Nah, forget what I just said. I can tell with a glance that you don’t belong here. Not in this land for sure.”

“How would you know?”

“You reeks of foreign ether.”

N-now what? Ether?

“No matter, an abandoned soul is still an abandoned soul. Let’s pretend this never happened. You can stay here as long as you like so long you pay the rent.”

What? No, I can’t just pretend this conversation never happened. What does she mean by abandoned soul?

“You can’t end it there! You know something about a different world!? Tell me, please!”

“Yeah? Well, I can. Too bad, hahaha!”

She stood up from the sofa and walked to the door.

“Please wait!”

“You’ve got something else you wanna tell me?”

“Please… hear me out.”

“...?”

“Do you know a method… to go back to my world?”

Hearing my response I thought she would be laughing or just brush me off, but it was quite the exact opposite. She turned back facing me slowly.

Her clear red eyes sharpened, almost looked inhuman for a second. I stood stiffly following her, unable to make a single move.

“Why do you ask?”

“I…”

I gulped.

“I want to go back.”

“...Why?”

“Because… I have to know.”

“You don’t want to stay?”

“Stay… you ask?”

Something, somewhere inside my head… snapped.

“Don’t kid with me! Are you seriously asking me that!? To stay in this world!? I wasn’t born here and I don’t want to die here!! This place, this land is nothing more than a fake!! I can’t feel a single thing talking with people!! I can’t see them as an actual people!! I’m becoming more and more apathetic, and it scares me to death!!”

I breathed deeply.

“I WANT TO GO BACK!!!”

“Well…”

She answered softly.

“... I don’t care.”

Did I hear it wrong? ‘I don’t care’...? That’s it?

“What?”

“You heard me. I’ve got some business to do. See ya.”

The door was slammed and her figure disappeared.

I can’t believe it. Is that all she’s going to say? That you don’t care even if you knew my situation?

“...”

I laid down on the sofa while staring at the ceiling.

Have I been ignoring it? All this time I’ve spent feels like a fleeting dream. I can’t tell whether this is a dream or no. Another world exist? Don’t joke around, no way it exist. It’s simply ridiculous.

Whenever I open the door, the usual blue sky and sun always welcomed me. If I continue walking, I would see houses and people walking around. How is that any different from where live before? There’s nothing different or unique. Only the alphabet and designs trend are different.

I don’t think this is a different world.

I can’t feel this world as different.

The only thing keeping me lucid all this time… is the system. What is it, and just what is it made for?

Today… I don’t feel like doing any work at all.

…

“Hoho~, thought it was the kid. What sort of business you have here?”

“Can’t I come just because I want to?”

“No, not really. You are disturbing my business.”

Brall answered plainly. Phy reacted weakly by yawning.

“I sell all sort of things except for alcohol.”

“You honestly believe that I would come to your shop for alcohol?”

“Anything can happen if it’s you.”

Phy laughed.

“What about the boy? How he’s been doing lately?”

“Eh, the little runt is fine. He pays his rent on-time without fail.”

“Wait, what!? You made a kid his age to pay rent!? That’s not the reason I sent him to you!”

“Obviously! You want me to die of starving that badly?”

“Starving of what!? Alcohol!?”

“Can you not mention alcohol every time we meet old man!?”

“Stop yelling in the shop!!”

“You are one to talk!!”

As they bickered, the door behind the counter was flung open.

“I know that voice! It’s you the savage lady!”

A petite girl with a brown skin and blonde hair said angrily.

“Oh Elva! How are you? Your father didn’t do anything weird to you, right!?”

“Oy, you wanna die?”

“Waah! Stop bullying father!”

“Hahaha! I’ll stop, I’ll stop! Don’t cry okay?”

“I’m not being bullied Elva…”

Phy stopped her teasing and sighed.

“Everything’s peaceful, eh?”

“Always has been around here. Why the sudden question?”

Brall answered half-heartedly while rubbed his daughter’s head.

“I have a premonition…”

“About what?”

“No, it’s probably nothing.”

“Well, whatever comes, I believe you will handle it.”

“Huh? Why should I?”

“You always do, Phy. Then and now, I’m sure whatever it is you can handle it just fine.”

“O-oh? What’s with the flattery old man? Your taste is a bit…”

“That’s not what I meant! Listen seriously for a second! Jeez…”

“Okay, okay!”

“...It’s not just me.”

Brall turned stared outside the window, seemingly in deep thought.

“Everyone’s the same. Whenever something happened, you always took care of it. Despite you being a drunkard that always causes problem for the people around you, they care about you. That incident in the restaurant, and also with Elva… people are thankful to you.”

“That’s harsh, but sweet. I didn’t know you could be that sincere old man.”

“Well, everyone has their own moment.”

Elva added.

“Yeah! You are strong, but my father is much a better person than you!”

“Hey, that hurts, you know.”

Elva lowered her gaze meeting the cold, hard floor.

“But…”

She spoke with a deeper tone, something rare for a child her age to do.

“I’m happy, that you are always with us.”

“...”

Phy was made speechless. She didn’t know how to react nor what to say.

“You are rude, always teases me and father. Your laugh is scary and your eyes looks like a crockodile. You look like a villain from the story book father read to me every night… but…”

She lifted her head and met her line of sight.

“No matter what, you will always be a hero to me!”

“...Elva…”

“Even if other people hate you, you will be always welcome here! Isn’t that right father?”

“Hahaha, you said it!”

A warmth sensation emerged from deep within her chest. It spread across her body as her face burned with a shade of red.

“What’s this? Even the savage lady can get embarrassed after all?”

“Hahaha, savage lady is crying!”

“You wanna die?”

It sounded less menacing when she said it while wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes.

“A-anyway, I’ve got other business to attend to.”

“Business? What business? All you are doing is bothering other people’s job!”

“You don’t understand a woman’s heart, do you!?”

“A woman? Where!?”

“Grggh!!”

Phy stomped her feet and walked outside the shop briskly.

“Father, aren’t you being a bit mean?”

“It’s fine Elva. This is nothing compared to what she’s did to me. Hahaha!”

“Father…”

Elva somewhat looked disappointed.

….

“Oh? This is a rare sight? Sorry, but I don’t have any alcohol with me.”

Phy coughed.

‘Is the word ‘I want alcohol’ plastered all over my face or something?’

She regained her composure and said.

“That’s not what I came here for you fool.”

“No? Did the sun rise from the west?”

“You want me to choke you with this bucket?”

“If not for alcohol for money, what sort of business you would have here?”

“I never asked you for money! Or alcohol for a fact!”

“No, but you did to my son. My son’s business is mine, too.”

“Well, a-aren’t you being a bit selfish there?”

“Selfish? Maybe. I won’t bother him with his private life, but you? You ain’t private, you are a menace.”

“What did you-”

“The best kind of menace there is! Hahaha!”

“...Huh?”

“I know that you saved his ass outside the city.”

The old man let out a thin smile.

“He was chased by rogue orcs. I don’t know how they got this far, but if not for you out there, I would be digging graves instead of picking limes by now.”

“...”

“Heh, take this.”

The old man threw 2 limes. But unlike any usual lime, they were golden colored instead.

“...Are you sure? Millions of people would do much more than saving your son’s ass for this thing, you know.”

“Wrong. Not millions, but billions. Sincerity and attitude is the key to farming these limes. Now, you go take one and give the other to the boy.”

“The boy?”

Phy looked confused for a moment.

“I’ve heard from Brall he’s staying with you, right? He’s odd, that’s for sure. Rigid face like a stone, does he even has muscles inside ‘em?”

‘Pretty sure he has them alright.’

Just not too long ago, Phy saw how functional his face muscles were.

“Even so, he ain’t harming anyone. It’s the opposite, he’s actually quite the hard worker. It’s about time he show up soon. I was planning to give the lime myself, but after seeing you here, something must have happened, right?”

“...”

“I have a few guesses. But it matters not. I’m old and weak, even being the eighth generation of the great and mighty Golden Lime company doesn’t give me immortality and infinite wisdom. It won’t be that far in the future before the ninth generation holds this company.”

“What are you trying to tell me old man?”

“I think you already know something about that kid.”

“...”

“He came from a place where none of us could reach. From the countless stars in the sky, one of them belong to the kid. Many possess the capability to reach them, but few can guide others to it.”

“And you think I have that capability?”

“No. Not me.”

“Who?”

“Everyone.”

Thump-thump.

Phy could hear her heart beating. For every second, the sound kept getting louder.

“What.. do you mean?”

“Of course I’m nothing more than an individual, I cannot represent everyone’s heart and mind. It’s nothing more than an old man’s sophistry, but through the time we have known each other… I can say for certain that I have faith in you.”

“Faith…? Don’t joke around old man. A businessman like you doesn’t believe in luck or faith-”

“As I said before, sincerity and attitude is the key to farming these limes. Not naivety or blind trust.”

“Then, this faith you are talking about is not faith at all, but a gamble with high odds of winning.”

“That’s one way to look at it. Anyway, I believe you will your answer.”

“What answer you are talking about?”

“If not answers you are looking for, then why have you come here?”

The old man chuckled and gave her a rectangle box. The box was neatly tied up with a ribbon.

“What’s this now?”

“A gift. I hope you’ll like it. Now get your ass moving, I don’t have all day.”

He gestured with his hands telling Phy to leave. She didn’t respond and left quietly. Only after she walked out of his house did she opened the box.

“Damn you old man… this is bribery.”

The Golden Wine, 945.

…

She didn’t stop there. She wandered around the city, meeting people who she seldom and often meet. Most of the talks always started in a light-hearted mood, but they always goes to the same end.

“What about that kid? What was his name again? He’s been helping me pulling weeds in my backyard. He’s not coming today? Shucks, I was about to treat him some of my wife’s cookies. Have you ever seen him smile? I wonder what could’ve happened.”

“That boy’s got some guts I tell ya. The other day I lost my wallet in the forest, so I went to search for it. Suddenly, a norg appeared and chased me deeper into the forest! I was so scared and thought I’m gonna ended up as a norg’s lunch, but suddenly the boy jumped out and smacked its head with woods! Can you believe that!? He’s much weaker than I am but he has 100 times more guts than me! Apparently he was doing errand for Brall, carrying woods everyday. Not only he’s braver than me, but also more hardworking than me.”

“Maybe you should start exercise more, grandpa…”

“Len, I remember him. Often times he would come around evening asking me for a job. Usually I would give something to do for him, but lately he’s been looking rather… unwell. So I didn’t give him any for for the past week. Tell me… is his face paralyzed since birth?”

“Yeah, he’s been a helpful hand around here! Won’t mind if he come more often!”

“Nice kid. Doesn’t ask questions, he just do what he’s told.”

“I heard he’s been living with you? You didn’t do anything weird to him, did you?”

...

Sitting on a bench in the park, Phy gulped down her lime juice.

‘Bitter sweet…’

‘How come it’s all old people? And what did he meant by doing anything weird to him? What sort of thing I could do anyway?’

She let her guard down and didn’t notice there were several children approaching her.

“Phy!”

“Uh? Oh, it’s just you guys.”

“We heard from Elva there’s a new kid living with you?”

“Yeah, what about it?”

“Is he your child, Phy?”

Pfffttttt~!!!

She coughed and sprayed her lime juice everywhere.

“W-what gave you that idea?”

“I mean, I heard from my parent that he’s been doing odd jobs around. They said that he’s been earning money to take care of you, otherwise you would ended up outside the city being a norg’s lunch.”

“No he didn’t!! Well… maybe a little, b-but I wouldn’t die in an idiot-sort-of-method like that, okay!”

“Then! How about you start getting a real job so he can play with us then?”

“What!? No way!”

“What sort of parent are you?”

“You are a failure as a parent.”

“He’s not my child and I’m not even married yet!! Listen to me you brats!!”

…

Facing the sunset, Phy mumbled to herself.

“What is this supposed to mean? Is fate pulling a joke on me? If so, then this the biggest one yet.”

‘An apostle, that’s what he is. The world would be much better without them pricks.’

Staring at the Golden Wine she received, she thought to herself.

‘Tower of Zephyrus. Is it too late already?’

There is so much more she wanted to say, but decided to stop. There are time and place for everything. Now is not the time for her to say.

‘What should I now? That kid, Len… was there a reason I met him? The hard work he put into doing quests has helped him this far, but for what? Just like any other Apostle, he will betray their trust and become corrupted.’

She kept thinking and thinking. Many people she knew, she loved has left her alone. This city is the only place she could call home. She cared about the people in this land, she wanted them to be happy.

A sincere wish from a savage lady. A side of her that she will never show to other people. Exactly because of this she won’t help him.

In this world, the people are real. They are not dolls controlled by some overgod being. They have feelings, they cry, they laugh and get angry. They are emotional and volatile.

For Len to say that he could not treat them as ‘real’ people struck a nerve on her part. Having her precious people being assumed as ‘fake’ made her mad. So much anger that she lost her appetite for a drink.

However, after hearing opinions from the people themselves… she felt something. A part of him that she overlooked, but others did not. Who was he? Why did he come? She knew nothing of him and assumed the worse because he was an Apostle.

She did the same thing as he did. She was not higher than him, she was a hypocrite for doing so, and she realized it herself.

But there was no shame. She knew what she did, and she did it with conscience. No guilt, but simply confusement.

‘What should I do next?’

Lost in her own world, Phy wandered around and before she knew it, the door lied before her. The door that leads to her home. Not much thought was given as she held the doorknob.

But something stopped her from turning the knob.

‘This smell…’

Not wasting any second Phy slammed the door open. The smell got stronger and denser it almost palpable.

“Len!”

The kid that she just saw in the morning, talking to her, yelling out his frustration is now slumped on the sofa with a knife pierced deep into his chest. Blood was flowing out of it, covering the entire fabric and floor red.

So much blood was lost. She saw his pale skins and an alarm inside her head exploded that there was no time to lose.

From this point onward, she knew her action will affect the outcome of this tale. The tale this black-haired boy has woven and hers that has reached an end will be intertwined.