Kapitel 43: Chapter 43: House (2)
Perseus POV
Returning to the former house where I had spent two and a half years as a slave...I found it strange that most of the arrangements were in the same place, even the brewery in the basement.
It was then that I noticed a small envelope sitting on the workbench, its edges worn and frayed with age. I picked it up, my heart pounding in my chest as I tore it open. Inside, I found a letter addressed to me, written in the old man's handwriting.
As I read the words on the page, a strange mixture of emotions washed over me. There was gratitude for the old man's generosity, for his kindness in leaving me a portion of his possessions. But there was also a sense of sadness, a realization of the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death.
I folded the letter and slipped it into my pocket, most of the old man's belongings were to go to Faust, but got all the money that the old man possessed, which Faust handed to me in a large sack.
I then stored it in my storage spell and just looked around a bit, but I didn't really have a lot to say.
"How long ago did he pass?"
"A couple months." Faust answered, "...Don't feel bad, I doubt that the guy wanted anyone to watch him or visit him at his weakest...unfortunate that he died with regrets."
"Yeah, I read the letter, something about taking too long to move forward and moving forward in such a way...why are all our lives so messed up?"
"I don't know." Faust shrugged as he popped a smoke, "But the gods work in mysterious ways...maybe we've done a lot of wrong in our past lives, maybe I was the cheater in my past life, maybe you were an abuser in yours...but we have to move on and live somehow."
"You ever thought of moving away from here?"
"I have...but not now, this town needs me."
"For drinks and that's about it."
"Hah...nice one kid...but unlike me, you got a lot of time, so explore the world for the rest of us. And visit me at any time...I'm going to live for a very long time until you won't see me again."
"Are you going to live here now?"
"Nah, I got my own home...but I do come here to sleep from time to time...are you staying tonight?"
"I rather not...that king does not like me, and I rather not die by his hands since he'll be sending assassins again sooner or later."
"Yeah, fair enough, nice seeing you again."
*****
Leaving the town behind, I pulled my hood down once more, the familiar sensation of freedom washing over me. Despite the somber atmosphere that seemed to hang over the town like a heavy shroud, I felt a sense of relief as I made my way back onto the open road.
It feels weird that I longed for the dungeon instead, a place where many would consider it dangerous, but I felt safer and more peaceful there. I then checked my system's notification and status.
[After hitting level 20, expect leveling up to become more difficult. Prepare for more difficult challenges and increased requirements as you push toward the next milestone.]
[Level 20]
[Rank: Apprentice]
[Role: Assistant Hero]
[Status: Normal]
[Abilities: Water breathing, Night vision, Enhanced Poison resistance, Chant-less cast, Eye of Ra, Eye of Horus.]
[Quest: Help the hero thwart the first wave of demon horde invasion in 3 years.]
[Side quest: Clear the 10th floor and find the secret room.]
10th floor huh...I'm going to use that to prepare for this horde that's happening in 3 years. Since there's a sure time for the invasion, that's not a good thing, and Cedric better use his time well, because I plan on isolating myself in the dungeon again.
"10th floor...that'll be difficult. You're not that good yet." Elpis commented, "And we're also just us 3."
"3?"
"The system."
"I see...well, it's what grinding is all about."
*****
I arrived back at Centralia, and right about as I was about to stand in line. Chaos erupted. Protest groups had emerged, their voices raised in anger and defiance as they marched through the streets, brandishing banners and chanting slogans denouncing the exploration of the abyss dungeon.
As I listened on, they were nothing but extremists. Something about how the gods meant to doom us and how we should all let the dungeon corrupt us all and die. They worshiped the creator of the abyss dungeon as a god, believing that it was their divine duty to prevent anyone from entering its depths.
Some even fought off the adventurers who were trying to go into the dungeon, but it didn't take long before it turned into a brawl. Fists flew and weapons clashed as everyone joined in a violent struggle for control of the streets.
I found myself swept up in the chaos, my senses overwhelmed by the shouts and screams that echoed through the air. I made my way through the crowd and got to a restaurant where I sat on the terrace to overlook the whole thing.
"Who's that over there?" Elpis asked as she pointed to the north
I saw a mysterious hooded figure standing atop the spire of a building and laughing. I saw only half of his face, and it was the disfigured bottom half that was laughing maniacally.
"Stop him." Elpis whispered and tugged my shirt under my cloak
"Why? It's got nothing to do with me."
"You're the assistant hero, you can't let the hero do everything."
"I'm not, but I'm not stopping that guy either."
"Take him down!" she chided, "I'll let you off if a bigger fish appears, it's your duty to get rid of people like him."
"But...I'm level 20, what the hell can I do?"
"We won't know until we try."
"Fine, but let me get the bill first."
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein