Chapter 4 – Monsters in the kitchen

He was cold but could open his eyes now.

"Good, you're awake."

Jon opened his eyes and looked at the man the brute called Dragon. He straightened up.

"I was afraid for a moment. Can't have you dying on me, not before you're done paying for the meat you had eaten."

"…"

"How did you even manage to eat so much? When I heard the amount you owed I thought for sure there were at least three people."

Jon looked around. He was in some sort of freezer. An iron ball was chained to his legs.

"You'd be surprised how handy that thing has become lately. So many people trying to run off without paying."

"…"

"No response, kid? That's a first. I like hearing guys like you complain and beg."

"…"

"Ok… you'll stay here until you've paid back the gold you owe. Here's your knife you will need it." He stepped out of the room.

"That's better, can't stand the cold in there," he spoke to himself, "This here is our fridge. A mage comes by once a month to keep it cold. You, boy, will stay here and peel vegetables with that knife of yours."

A child came inside and put a crate of potatoes in front of Jon and an empty one beside him.

"He will bring them to you," Dragon pointed at the kid, "and take them away once you're done. There is soup on the stove there, take as much as you want. You're no use to me sick."

"…"

"Well? Start working!" he commanded and shut the door.

The blue ball of mana materialized at Jon's command. He stared at the potatoes before him.

He picked up a potato and began working.

Quest Notice

You have begun a quest. This quest cannot be denied and you cannot accept any more quests while this one is in progress.

Frozen Vegetables

You have refused to pay for your food and as punishment you will have to work for five days.

Difficulty: E

Reward: Debt is cleared.

Relationship with Dragon becomes neutral.

He was working on his second crate when the door opened.

A huge man squeezed through it and rushed towards him.

"What in Freya's name is this?" he screamed in his face.

"…"

"How am I to work with this?" he was holding a potato peeled by Jon.

'"…"

Jon's lack of response angered him even more. He smashed the potato with his hand and threw it at Jon.

Jon ignored it and simply went back to peeling.

The man stood there watching him, his hurried breath slowly going back to normal.

"Here, let me." He took Jon's knife and picked up a potato and peeled it in two swift motions.

"This is how you do it." He threw the peeled potato at Jon.

Jon picked another potato and gave it to the man.

"Again," he said.

Two swift motions and the potato was peeled.

"You try."

He did. It was a simple motion and Jon was always a quick learner and good with his hands.

"I'll come back when the carrots and onions come." He left as suddenly as he arrived.

Jon went back to peeling.

Focus Rises by 1(+1 Foc)

He liked peeling vegetables. It kept him busy and allowed him to forget about the rest of the world. The cold was bearable and the vegetables were never-ending.

The cook came twice more to show him how he wanted the carrots and onions peeled.

No one bothered him about his floating ball of light and he was getting stronger as a player, which was something he started to enjoy.

"You're a hard working young man aren't ya?" Dragon passed by, sharing a comment or two.

"You're the first one who didn't try to escape, you know that?"

It was the morning of the third day already. Jon who worked nonstop both day and night was in a trance like state.

Dragon's words snapped him out of it and he was left disoriented.

"What?"

"I'm saying you're the first one to accept his punishment. The ones before you always tried to escape." He smiled, "They never manage to do it, but they all tried to run nonetheless."

"…"

"I and the boys always place money on how long they will last. You have two more days left, keep this up and we will all lose for the first time."

"…"

"Still keeping quiet?" he started closing the door. "Can't complain as long as you keep working, I guess."

Focus Rises by 1(+1 Foc)

Focus Rises by 1(+1 Foc)

Knife/Dagger Mastery Acquired

Increases efficiency of handling knives and daggers.

When using a knife or a dagger, depending on your level of mastery, the following bonuses will be applied:

Attack Speed: +5%

Attack Power: +5%

Cold Resistance Increases by 5% (+5%)

And just like that, two more days passed. Jon felt kind of disappointed when Dragon came and told him he was free to go.

"You're done!" he said, "get out of here before I make you pay for all the money I lost on you."

Quest "Frozen Vegetables" Completed

Debt is cleared.

Relationship with Dragon becomes neutral.

He didn't want the quest to end. He liked doing this kind of monotonous work, it kept him busy while letting his mind wander at the same time.

Jon was looking for a job and he decided he wanted this one and applied to Dragon for it from inside the refrigerator.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"Hmm… I can use a hard worker like you…"

"…"

Dragon began to smile.

"I have the perfect thing for you. You've met our cook right?" he motioned Jon to follow him. "The big guy who's always angry and yells a lot. Well, if you really want to work here, than your job will be to help him out. Agreed?"

Job Notice

You have been offered work as a kitchen hand.

Work schedule: 9 hours a day.

Pay: 20 silvers a day.

Do you accept?

Yes? No?

"Agreed."

"Good. You can start tomorrow. Be here at seven. We open up at eight and things need to be ready for when the morning customers start coming."

He walked Jon outside and stood at the door looking after him as Jon walked away.

"Five silvers, he quits the next day." The brute said at the door to Dragon.

"Ha. Ten, he stays longer than a week."

"I accept."

"I'll write it down then. Better go ask the rest of the guys." He went inside. "Not a word to Burka! Or the lad might end up dead."

Jon went back to the library to see if it turned back to the quiet place it had been. As he got closer to it he saw there were no longer people standing outside trying to get a glimpse at the body.

He entered through the large wooden doors and listened. The silence was deafening.

"You're back." Unknownadd, the book keeper, greeted him.

"I was afraid the rumor scared you away?"

"Rumor?"

"People seem to think there's some kind of monster hiding in here. They say it killed six people already." He sighed. "It brings more people, but only the wrong kinds of people come."

"…"

"Go look for yourself. I've saved your spot for you." He handed Jon a glass of Scholars Brew.

"Thank you."

He made his way through the bookshelves to the reading area.

Just like Unknowadd said, there were a lot of people there. However, none of them were reading.

These were players, and no longer the usual newbies who wanted to become mages. Although not high leveled, not even one wore the beginners clothes Jon had on him and was used to seeing in the library.

He sat down at his place. The wall of books was left in place and he scanned the room hidden from sight.

He counted twenty seven players. More seemed to be walking around between the bookshelves.

Jon broke off the spell he was constantly using and the blue ball of light disappeared.

-'I'll need it.'-

He took out the eighteenth volume of "Mages through the Ages" from his inventory and began reading, waiting for night to bring with it the darkness.

More people came as the sun went down. The reading area was hot from all the lit candles the players lighted. They seemed to think the candle light would protect them.

Jon knew better. As soon as it was dark enough he went into the sea of bookshelves and roamed it in complete darkness.

He could see the people who were searching for the monster amongst the bookshelves, clearly. They all held candles and the candle light shone through the gaps in the books.

He stepped further inside, until he could no longer see the bright light of the reading area. The sound of them talking was muffled by the books. He summoned the blue mana ball and floated it far from him.

Quietly he waited. There were so many people that it didn't take long for someone to take the bait.

Amongst the players, there were some who formed groups and pairs to search together. Luckily for Jon this player was alone.

He guided the blue light slowly towards where he was hiding, keeping it out of reach of the player.

He waited for the player to pass him and quietly followed him.

The player saw nothing outside the light of his candle. His gaze concentrated on Jon's beginners spell.

-'Silent Strike'-

Critical Hit

You have killed a player!

Fame is decreased by 20 points. (-20 Fame)

A red mark has appeared on your forehead, it will disappear in 6 hours.

Jon didn't need a higher critical hit rate or the higher damage the skill gave him, but he never took chances when it came to taking a persons life.

The knife had taken from Yarel, that same knife that he used to peel all those vegetables was lounged deep in the players brain. The hilt of the knife was poking out of his ear, and Jon held it as the player turned grey and disappeared.

A belt dropped to the ground, where just a moment ago the player’s feet were.

He picked up the belt and looked at its stats.

Level Up

Sneak Skill Levels Up

Level 2 effect: You are 5% harder to see.

You make 5% less sound when sneaking.

Silent Strike Levels Up

Level 2: Deal 15% more damage.

Chance of a critical hit increases by 40%.

Cost: 50 Mp

Dexterity increases by 1 (+1Dex)

He put it on.

It wasn't much but it was better than the simple rope he had for holding his pants up.

Hard Cloth Belt

Defense: 1 Durability: 9/10

A simple belt made out of sturdy cloth.

As the sun began to rise, Jon left the library and headed towards his new workplace.

He looked nothing like the man who came inside just yesterday.

New boots, pants, hood and simple leather breast armor now covered his body. His knife was strapped safely to his belt. In his inventory lay two swords and a magic staff.

The rumor changed during the night. People no longer suspected there was a monster in the library but seemed to be certain of it. Eight people were confirmed dead by their friends who were online. Jon didn't bother telling them there were more than that.

He was lucky for the rumor as it brought almost a hundred players to the library. His magic bait worked perfectly every time even on the mages.

The rumor now seemed to say, that Unknownadd would give a quest to defeat the monster. So as Jon walked by him he could see a bunch of players swarming around him.

They were all trying to get on his good side so he would give them a quest.

He headed for his new job.

The brute at the door greeted him with a grin. He went inside and entered the kitchen. It was already like a war zone. Half a dozen men were moving about hurriedly, preparing everything for opening time.

Jon located the head cook easily, as his massive size stood out in the small kitchen.

"Dragon tells me you're here to help me." He was already angry.

"You're late!"

Jon wasn't.

"Burka, show him around the place." Dragon poked his head out of his office.

This seemed to make Burka even angrier, but he gave Jon a tour nonetheless. Once the tour was over the orders started coming. Burka never spoke, he always yelled. And as Jon was now his right hand he got the most of the yelling.

Bring this, take that. Wash those, clean here. For nine hours he had to do what Burka yelled at him to do.

Jon didn't mind. He was used to being screamed at, so it didn't bother him. And as for obeying Burka, that too was fine with him as it kept him busy. Even during his break Burka made him work and Jon was fine with it.

Done with work, Jon headed back to the library. He sat at his usual place, opened his book and waited.

It wasn't a good night. The rumor spread even more and the library was full to the brink. Players no longer wandered alone and everywhere parties could be seen being formed.

He read through the night, leaving his seat only to get some of Unknownadd's special brew.

There were too many people; he decided not to risk it. He had a job now and he didn't want to lose it.

He left the library in the morning and went to work.

As soon as work was done he went back to the library.

Intelligence increases by 1 (+1 Int)

You Have Completed A Book: "Mages through the Ages, vol 18"

Wisdom Rises By 1 (+1 Wis)

You Have Completed A Book: "Mages through the Ages, vol 19"

Wisdom Rises By 1 (+1 Wis)

Four days passed this way with only his intelligence stat growing from sustaining the magic ball afloat while reading books. He kept his routine, and while things at work were progressing smoothly he couldn't get the last five kills he needed. The library was still swarming with players.

.

A strange thing happened thanks to the crowded library. It made Jon's relationship with the bookkeeper greatly increase. As Jon was the only person in the library who was still reading books and not searching for the rumored monster, the bookkeeper talked to Jon more with each passing day.

Today when Jon returned to the library from work, the crowd that surrounded Unknownadd was gone.

"Welcome back Jon," he greeted him kindly.

Jon smiled back.

"How are you coming along with the books I showed to you?"

"Last volume."

"That's great. I hope my brew helped with that."

"A lot."

"I was hoping you would say that." He took out a leather flask. "This here is a concentrated doze. I've prepared it especially for you."

Jon took the flask from him and put it in his inventory.

"There were so many people doing everything but reading lately, that the herb I use for my brew is all gone." He sighed. "I'm afraid there isn't going to be any more of it for quite some time now."

"Why?"

"The alchemist I buy it from said the person who supplies it to him hasn't gotten in touch with him for a while. And until he does, I can't make any more brew."

"I used the last of the herbs to make enough for you and me. Be careful though it's much stronger than usual."

"…"

"I know. I'll have a lot of trouble without it as well. My work will become twice as long." He sat down and stroked his long white beard.

"Help?"

"What? You want to help, Jon?" he said, cheered up, "I'm not sure you can though. No hurt in trying, however."

Unknowadd scribbled down a quick map and handed it to Jon.

"Tell him I sent you to help with the herb problem."

New Quest Added

Helping the Bookkeeper

Unknowadd, the library bookkeeper has asked you for help with obtaining an herb he desperately needs.

The Scholar's Brew he makes is something he can't do his work without, and the herb he uses for it is out of stock.

Get it for him as soon as possible.

Difficulty: E

Rewards: 10 gold.

Secret recipe for Scholar's Brew.

With the bookkeeper's map, finding the small shop was no problem. He understood why the map was needed once he found the shop.

It was located in an alley inside of an alley, far from the main street and inside a cellar of a house. There were no signs and no implications that there was a shop there. Jon wasn't even sure he was in the right place until he entered it.

Inside was dark and smoky. Dozens of smells filled his nostrils.

Everywhere he looked lay thousands of small glass bottles. Hanging from the ceiling were plants that dwindled down to the floor.

From the gaps in the shelves, poked out different flowers in all shapes, sizes and colors.

The only light in the room came from two small windows behind on the wall behind him. The little light that shone through them was dispersed by the hanging plants.

He stepped deeper, looking for a merchant. A sound came from the far side of the room and that’s where he headed, or tried to at least.

He had to maneuver through the maze of shelves and plants and when he got to the merchant, the merchant told him to go away.

"I told your boss a dozen times already, the poisons aren't ready yet! Sending you to threaten me won't make it happen any faster." He was measuring a plant to be cut and only spared Jon one fast glance.

Jon's high negative fame was working against him again.

"Not poison."

"Yes, like I said. No poison until I get my next shipment from the supplier." He spoke with his head down.

"A tribe of lizard men decided to change habitats and merchants had to by-pass their usual routes. All of the shipments this week are late in coming."

"Come back next week. I'm sure whoever it is you are planning on poisoning will still be alive to get poisoned."

"Scholar's Brew"

"Hmm?" he looked up at Jon, eyeing him through his small spectacles.

"Unknownadd sent me to help."

"The bookkeeper sent you?" he stopped working completely now.

"To get the Monk's-Tongue he so desperately needs?"

"Yes."

"Well, too bad for him. Like I told him already, there will be no Monk's-Tongue for the foreseeable future." He pushed his glasses back up his nose.

"It's a rare herb and the man who I used to buy it from seemed to have disappeared. I wouldn't be surprised if he died with where he decided to make his home." He went back to trimming the herd on his table.

"I'll get it."

He stopped working again. This time he looked at Jon with annoyance.

"You said Unknowadd sent you? Do you have any proof?"

Jon passed him a piece of paper that had the map drawn on it.

"And you say you want to help obtaining it?" He pushed his glasses up the nose again out of habit.

"I don't mind you doing it, but why are you? I'll tell you now, it's not easy to get. I was the only store in the citadel to sell it, and that's only because I don't mind doing business with shady people."

"…"

"The man I used to buy it from was probably crazy. Living where he lived to get his hands on it, he had to be."

"…"

"Not much of a talker, are you?" he smiled, "That’s' good. Better at keeping secrets, you silent types, are."

"It's good you want to help, but do you even know how the plant looks like?"

"No."

"Thought as much." He stood up and got a thick book from the back room.

"Here it is," he opened the book, "But before I show it to you we need to make a deal."

"…"

"If you're going there to find some Monk's Tongue, you might as well get me some other stuff I need on the way. Agreed?"

"Agreed."

"Good." He flipped through the book. "Let me teach you some basic alchemy. I need quite a bit of herbs so it should help with identifying them.

Alchemy Skill Learned

Alchemy gives you the ability to combine different ingredients into various potions.

It also helps with identifying what an ingredient is and what are its various effects.

From health potions to growth elixirs and poisons, a higher alchemy skill will allow for better potency results to be created.

The bonuses granted by the alchemy skill also apply to cooked food.

Note: Ingesting various ingredients will increase the skill and help with identifying the ingredients effect.

The alchemist lit a candle as the little light from the windows was starting to disappear.

"Are you sure you remember them all?"

"Yes."

"Remember, the more of them you bring the more I will pay you. Even if it's only one kind, bring me a bunch of it and it’s fine too. Understood?"

Quest Update

The alchemist asked you to gather him other plants while searching for the Monk's Tongue.

He asked for seventeen different kinds and said to bring as many of each as possible.

To gather the herbs you must enter the sewers of Serabourg Citadel. However there are iron bars blocking the way, so that monsters do not enter the city. In order for you to get to the area where the Monk Tongue grows, you will need to enter the sewers from outside the citadel walls. Use the northern entrance and head west through the tunnels.

Difficulty: E

Reward: Depends on amount of herbs gathered.

"Understood."

"Great. I hope you return alive." He went back to his work and didn't spare Jon another look.

Jon left the shop and headed back to his usual seat at the library. He couldn't continue the quest until he was allowed to leave the citadel. And seeing as how four weeks have yet to pass inside the game, there was nothing he could do for now.

So he went back to the library in hopes of killing a player or two before he needed to go to work.

Unfortunately the library was still packed with groups of players looking for the monster. He went to work without scoring even one kill.

"Eat this!" Burka said in his usual angered voice.

The day was over and Jon got his twenty silvers from Dragon. He was about to leave when Burka offered him a bowl of broth. Jon wasn't particularly hungry but Burka kept staring at him until he began eating.

-'It's good'-

"You have to speak up when you're in the kitchen. You haven't said one word the whole day!" his voice was loud even when he was talking normally.

"…"

"Tomorrow, come before the sun rises. I will show you how to help with the ingredients." Burka said looking at his own feet.

"Ok."

He went back to work, Jon finished eating and left. Burka may look like a fearsome warrior but his cooking skill was the real deal.

You energy has been completely restored.

You no longer feel tired.

HP increases by 300

Mp increases by 100

Stamina increases by 50

Effect lasts for 4 hours.

Although it meant coming more than three hours earlier, Jon didn't mind. With the library crowded as it was, until he found a different place for hunting he had nothing better to do.