Player Reached the Top. LitRPG Series. Book IV Page 22

  Sighing and rubbing the bridge of his nose, Will told them all he knew about the heroic potential, its conditions, and the heroic skills. “That’s all I know so far.”

  “Do you have any of those heroic skills?”

  “No.”

  “Oh, I see. Okay. Please, forgive us for all of this. I must go, Pak. You can stay if you like.”

  After talking to Pak in private, Will learned that most of the money Will earned from the game was going to the charity he volunteered for. Pak’s father had a severe disability too. He died when Pak was fourteen. After he met Anister and learned about the charity, he soon joined too.

  Will promised to donate some money to this cause, as it had touched his soul. As bad as his past life of poverty was, what these people had to live with was far worse. The feeling of helplessness.

  Parting with his friend and reaching the teleport, Raven considered his next destination. He had no idea how much time Daltaro would need to solve the puzzle of the seals, so he decided to spend a while leveling his pet up so that he could surpass the original Cerberus.

  ***

  Laughing Queen of Spades and Coffee Addict were sitting together in the arena, five minutes after finishing another meeting of their brotherhood, during which they had discussed their next steps, as well as some new information about the floors. They had started out as a small secret chat, but now they were so much more. They had no definite leader, but everyone had voted for the queen to be their spokesperson. Her catchy title had drawn lots of attention once she had revealed it.

  However, it was Coffee Addict who had the power to decide things.

  “Hey,” she addressed him, while turning a set of Baoding balls in her hand. “Why haven’t we done this before? Just look at the effect. Our brotherhood is on everyone’s lips. That boy, Raven, played a cool trick by fighting the Ifrit. But we could’ve made mincemeat of her in a much more spectacular way.”

  Tossing one of the balls and catching it, she went on, “It’s not the first time I’ve asked you this. Will you answer me? The others are wondering about it just as much as me. We could’ve done it two months before – and started to make a profit by selling our lands. You know it. We have more power than the clans, particularly since I became…” She pointed up at her royal title which was showing over her head.

  “Oh. You never change, do you. I’ll say this once and that’s it. Yes, we could have done it at an earlier point. But would that money really have made much difference for you, Kim Steyson?”

  The girl started upon hearing her real name, but calmed down instantly and flashed him a cold smile. “You’re full of surprises… Draco Green.”

  “Ho-ho-ho. I’m flattered. No, really. The daughter of that very Steyson family looking into the bio of a plain, old man.”

  “You didn’t really believe I would put my future in the hands of some upstart, did you?”

  “I didn’t.” A calm smile sent small wrinkles across his clean-shaven face. “I will answer your question. My goal here is not money or fame. While I was suffering the excruciating pain of The Emperor tampering with my memories, I realized this… this experience is anything but your regular VR game. And I will get to the bottom of it. I will. I’m too old to just let it go. That’s why you’re here. That’s why we’re working together. I know you have a score to settle with the RD leader, but I will not tolerate your personal business messing with our goals. I forgave you that stunt on the video since it didn’t interfere with the main message. But if you do anything like that again, you will be expelled from the brotherhood.”

  “Oh. I thought you were thinking big, with greater goals in mind, Mr. Billions.”

  “Watch your mouth, girl.” The voice of this man, who had purposefully taken a stupid nickname grew cold. “Let’s call it a day.”

  “If you say so.” The queen’s figure blinked and disappeared into the air. Glancing around, the real leader of the brotherhood exited the game too.

  He still had no idea what was really going on in this game, but Skydome couldn’t keep hiding it forever. The brotherhood was already coming across some links. A short time ago, one of the branches reported that some suspicious construction works had been carried out at Skydome’s headquarters four years ago, and that all the regular documentation about the construction works had been wiped out.

  Chapter 230. A New Evolution

  Two days later

  T he Skull Hollow. A location adored by the noobs who got to start in Camardinia, a small country in southeastern Sarhey. This place was pleasantly warm and rich in mobs up to Level 6, from lizards to scorpions.

  It was the perfect place for developing Hades. The only downside was all those noobs loafing about with sour faces while Will’s pet devoured their monsters like an unstoppable harvester, only taking an occasional short break.

  Raven was bored as he waited for Curtis, so he watched the new players in action again and again, gathering whatever information about their abilities and skills was available. One of them even had a pet: a snake that had a second head instead of a tail. It was quite large and agile.

  Another noob was screaming foul language at Hades as the dog grabbed a small mob in its jaws and started to chew it. “Sorry, man,” Will muttered, glancing at the confused players. He yawned and opened the auction menu. He checked it regularly, just in case any stone parts or other useful items showed up.

  Curtis arrived an hour later. Will couldn’t help being surprised at his choice of race and class. “A ghost? Undead? Seriously, bro?”

  “Hey there. I can’t believe this is possible.” Curtis, whose nickname was purposefully repetitive (Ghostly Ghost), closed his eyes, lifted his face up toward the virtual sun, and smiled. “There’s no way I’m getting out of here now. Who would’ve thought…”

  “So, why a ghost?” Raven insisted.

  “Don’t you remember? I’ve always been interested in morbid things. Is there an afterlife? What does it feel like? That sort of thing.”

  “You do know this afterlife is not real,” Will smiled. Sure, he remembered Curtis talking about death, and life after death, all the time. This obsession was triggered by the death of his first pet: a puppy that ran away when little Curtis was taking it for a walk. It got lost and was later found dead next to the highway. Curtis blamed himself for failing to protect the helpless little thing.

  “I don’t give a damn.” Opening his eyes, Curtis looked at the rogue. “Enough about that. What should I do?”

  “Nothing for now. Soon, someone from the clan I’ve told you about will come here and take you to practice. For now, your task is to watch and learn. Take the seasoned players’ advice but look for your own path of development.”

  “Okay. I’m ready to start.”

  ***

  Three hours after Curtis had left, Raven was sat tapping his dagger on his left palm, waiting tensely for Hades to grow its fifth head.

  It was nine mobs short of the goal. Seven. Four…

  The pet’s body froze in the air like it always did but what followed was drastically different from any of its past evolutions. With a deafening roar ripping out of all four throats, it rose up on its hind legs, drawing everyone’s attention.

  Hades’s fur started to disappear, revealing the strong muscle underneath. The pet’s whole body crackled, compressing tightly and took a human-like shape. Its four heads merged into one, with two eyes, two ears, and one mouth. The animal’s flesh shrunk and stretched in turns, emitting a pulsing glow, until its scream became human. Falling to the ground, Hades stood on its knees, clutching at the soft ground, still in agony from the transformation.

  It was soon over. The rogue gaped at the naked female body lying on the ground. “Hades? What the…?”

  The young woman opened her eyes and tried to stand on her wobbly legs but lurched violently and fell forwards. Will picked her up before she could hit the ground.

  “Master?” She stared with dog-like eyes. This was too much for Raven to
bear; his arms relaxed with surprise, dropping her to the ground.

  “Ouch!” she squeaked, clutching at her head that had hit a protruding stone.

  A crowd of players was surrounding the two of them. It was a rare sight: a pet becoming a human before their very eyes. A very attractive human.

  Wishing he had known in advance what would happen to the pet this time (he would have found a deserted spot in this case), Will shook his head and covered the young woman’s body. I need to get her some gear.

  “How are you?” he asked, squatting next to her.

  “I…” She drawled her words, apparently through a lack of habit. “I am all right, master.”

  Will activated the pet menu to check the stats.

  Name: Hades

  Rank: None

  Level: 22

  Evolution: 4

  Family skills:

  Eye of Duat

  Eater of Dead

  Breath of Kala’Kha

  Human Essence

  XP to the next level: 487,640/749,900

  To the next evolution:

  0/975 Influence Points;

  0/1,625 devoured bodies.

  HUMAN ESSENCE

  Active/passive skill: Apprentice

  Description: Your pet can now live as a human, using human weapons and gear.

  No cost.

  After reading this new info, Will sensed the girl nestle up to him and rub her head against his body, as if she were a former kitten, not a dog. The only reason she couldn’t wave her tail delightfully was because she didn’t have one.

  “Hades?”

  “Yes, master?”

  “Stop. For a start, stop calling me ‘master’.”

  “Yes, master!” She gazed at Raven with eyes full of admiration and nodded at his every word, but she seemed to have trouble understanding what they meant.

  “Now say ‘yes’. Without ‘master’.”

  “Yes!”

  “Good gi…” The rogue reached a hand to pat her on the head but stopped midway.

  “…master!”

  “Oh. This isn’t going to be easy.” Looking up at the gaping crowd, he commanded the pet to transform back into the dog. He had to buy her some gear. Considering how much gold he had spent on developing the royal skill branch, his choices would be rather narrow.

  ***

  Having bought some gear for Hade (this was how Will now addressed her, instead of Hades), he headed off for his floor. He would love to feed more low-level mobs to his pet, but spending time doing so would be such a waste, as it didn’t do very much for his own development. For each of these mobs he would be getting literally 1 XP point, and he wasn’t enough of a masochist to engage in such a tantalizingly slow grinding process.

  “Hi Daltaro.” Will approached his friend, who was engrossed in the study of an ancient manuscript, and clapped him on the shoulder.

  “Damn!” Taken aback, the archer gave a start and, muttering curses, bowed to pick up the feather he had dropped. “Don’t scare me like that, please. Oh. Who’s that with you?” He noticed the girl by Will’s side. She was clutching a stick she had recently picked up in both hands and gazing at him happily. “Eh. Sorry, but why is she staring at me like that?”

  “Ahahaha. This is the most interesting part. Ready?” After a dramatic pause, Will pointed at his companion with both hands, like a magician introducing his assistant. “This is Hades. Or Hade, as I call her now.”

  “Excuse me.” The girl gave a light bow. “I’m still getting used to my new form. I used to see you differently before, through the eyes of my mas…” Checking herself and biting her tongue, she cast a guilty look at the rogue.

  “Eh? The eyes of your mas? What’s that? Some doggish skill?”

  “A doggish skill? Ahahaha.” Raven laughed out loudly. “Ahahaha! Doggish… Ahahaha! Skill… Oh. You’re really…”

  “Will you explain what’s wrong?”

  After having a hearty laugh and wiping away his tears, Will explained the situation. The archer blushed and looked away. “Fuck you. I’m not done here yet. I need another day.”

  “Okay. Your dog spirit may have that. Ahahaha.” Will barged out of the librarian’s house, dodging the arrow tossed by Daltaro’s hand from a nearby quiver and laughing his guts up as he did went.

  “Have I done something wrong?” Hade asked, licking the stick she still had clutched in her hand.

  “Oh, don’t worry. I’m just glad that you aren’t calling me ‘master’ anymore. And put the stick away. Why did you even pick it up?”

  “Out of habit.”

  “I’d love to meet Cerberus. And ask him why he didn’t mention your gender to me.”

  While he was waiting for Daltaro to complete the seal translation, Will teleported to one of his fortresses that had been completed a week before. This place used to have a village that was simply called Village-upon-Baibro. Baibro was the name of the nearby river.

  From the parapet of this fortress, his outpost, Will could see the wall being erected along the border. It will help protect the realm from the Holy Empire. But not from the Latians. Those crazy, unpredictable bastards can fly. So, this is just a half-solution.

  This outpost was the closest to the location of the Monarch’s Door, which was situated to the east. As far as Will knew, it was no man’s land, but now the Latians were building their fortifications there.

  “Hey, stop.” Frowning, he peered into the distance, bewildered by a sudden realization. “Why would they build any walls there, anyway? According to Emin, they were doing it to keep the messenger – me – away. But only four people knew of my plan. And none of them could’ve betrayed me. Or…” He clenched the stone balustrade.

  Have I been betrayed?

  Chapter 231. The Secret Admirer

  T hat’s weird. I have a well-developed relationship with each of them. How is that even possible?

  Thinking of everyone who could have spilled the information, he stopped on Nanel. She was the only one who could possibly do it. Her lifelong dream of adventure was enough to make her share the excitement of the upcoming journey with other people.

  ***

  However, just twenty minutes later and he was comforted by a brief conversation with Nanel. Talkative as she was, she has told no one about the planned journey, except for a single man: Galaker. He had begged her to, apparently concerned about the young queen’s safety.

  This guy is around her too much, Will had barely had time to think when the system informed him he was on the right track:

  Attention! A random event has been started: A Secret Admirer?

  Description: Find Paul es Galaker II and get to the bottom of his curiosity.

  “Oh. I’ve had a task like this before. And there aren’t any rewards again. Tsk.” He stood in the hallway next to Nanel’s door, while his strange monologue drew the attention of the guards that were standing on duty there.

  Soon, everyone and their dogs was looking for Nanel’s secret admirer. Could he mean evil for the young queen, despite his supposed love of her? Or maybe Will was wrong about him?

  Half an hour later, the culprit of all the commotion was standing before the king in the great hall. The guard captain was standing on Will’s right, a couple of steps further back. Nanel, although not in her royal dress, sat on the throne to his left, as befitted his queen. She had placed her hands on the armrests and was staring at the suspect. Five guardsmen were standing as still as statues a little away from the noble with their hands on the hilts of their swords.

  “So.” Resting his chin on his right fist, Raven started the interrogation. “Tell me, Galaker, why were you asking the queen so insistently about the journey she was going to take?”

  “Your Majesty, I…” Taking a glance around, he continued calmly. “I was asking these questions to make sure that Her Majesty was safe. Please, forgive me if I have offended you with my concerns. I never meant to do anything like that.”

  His voice and manners were co
urteous, as befitted a noble in the presence of royalty, but his eyes were… condescending. As if he knew some secret that was hidden from everyone else present, and he was taking pride in that fact.

  There was one simple question that would dot all the i’s here: What is the root of his confidence?

  “No one would doubt your words if it wasn’t for what happened at our first meeting. You remember it, don’t you?”

  Of course, the young noble remembered it; Will could read that in the small twitch of his lips. He had even been imprisoned for it. But Galaker’s face remained calm. There was no evidence against him this time; nothing but his asking too many questions about his royals’ destination.

  “While in prison, I thought a lot about what I did. I can assure you: if there was any way for me to relive that day, I would never have done it. Please, forgive me these words, but a man in love,” he shifted his gaze to the queen, “does stupid things. I have lived for twenty-seven years, and I have never loved anyone as much as I love Her Majesty.” After bowing for a couple of seconds, he straightened up. “May I ask a question?”

  Will stared at him silently. No one said a word. They were waiting for the king to speak.

  “Hold it for now.” Leaning back in his throne, Raven beckoned one of the guards over. Once the guard had approached him and took a knee, he continued: “Do you know what the Soul Vow spell is?”

  “Of course I do, Your Majesty.”

  “Good. Then you probably won’t object if we use it to make sure you’re loyal to me and the queen.” Will bowed his head slightly towards Nanel. “And that you mean no evil for either the crown or the realm. What do you think?”

  “Is Your Majesty suspecting me?” A corner of the young noble’s lips twitched as he stared at the king, unblinking.