Bab 16: The First Primary Quest

[Achievement System… Activated.]

Nimble of mind, Rizz instantly discovered that he could select the text with his thoughts alone. So he kept his head down, his mouth covered, and his brain active. Straight away, the giddy goblin found his hopes fulfilled.

[New {Primary Quest} available… Inspect? Y / N]

*Hell yeah, gimme that quest!* Rizz mentally cackled.

[Break the curse of the familiar: ongoing]

[Disband, disenchant, or break your curse of the familiar binding you to Elenia Rifton. Reward: determined by the amount of time taken between distribution and completion of the quest.]

Rizz only needed a few seconds to catch on. He mentally deduced, *So, this is why you chose a gamer as your little test subject. Eh, Shady Sage? Cause you're hoping I'm stupid enough to play along…*

While his mind was arrogantly belittling the efforts and hidden agendas of the Sage, Rizz was also experiencing a rush of exhilaration. A spike of intoxicating ecstasy… something Rizz wouldn't dream of ignoring or turning away.

"But Father, I can't remain cooped up in my room. Not for so long–"

"Elenia!" Barking, Teward stomped against the stone floor. "You will do as I say. Until we solve this issue and replace that fiend with a proper familiar, you are not to leave this estate!"

"Daddy–"

"That is that! No more, Elenia! You are no longer a child, so prove your maturity and trust in your father. I will not let you fall to ruin, my flower."

While speaking, Teward gradually regained control of his voice, lowering his volume bit by bit. "For now, you do not understand. Keep faith in His Perfection and he will never steer us wrong. Do not forget your faith."

That batch of shouts drew Rizz's attention back to the situation at hand. There were other features and tabs available in his new [Achievement System], but Rizz knew that he shouldn't get ahead of himself. Not when he was already in the middle of a situation and lacked crucial information.

*His Perfection? Which of the gods is he spouting on about?* pondered Rizz.

But the only hint Rizz could find was how tightly Teward had grasped his pendant. He saw the mother doing the same thing, though Rizz missed his chance to catch a good look at the pendant itself.

Rizz then glanced at the young woman's neck. Yet he failed to find any sort of pendant or necklace.

"Yes, Father…" Elenia gingerly bowed her head. There was a slim smile on her lips. But it was so flimsy that anyone could walk up to her and rip from her face.

And Teward ignored the delicate expression. He only nodded in acceptance before turning his attention back to the green fiend in shackles. "I warn you, monster. Touch my daughter in any way, and you'll lose your hands. Be grateful to His Perfection. For it is only by his order and laws that we must delay your death.

"The moment we're capable of recreating this ritual, you shall be sacrificed for the betterment of my home. And my daughter will be granted a familiar worthy of her. Not your monstrous filth provided by none other than the bitter devil."

Rizz lifted his head. Blinking. Keeping silent…

"It is good that you understand at least how pitiful you are. Remain silent before me and you'll live long enough to join our next familiar summoning." Teward spun around, snapping his fingers. "Keep it restrained, and give it an isolated cell. We can't have it being eaten or killed without proper cause. Or my daughter may struggle to summon a truly worthy familiar."

The goblin was raised and brought to his feet by the guards. "Yes, Lord Rifton."

Before anyone else, the mother scurried out of the room, shaking off sheets of goosebumps. "Oh, Diamond Almighty, that creature is revolting!"

Rizz could hear her complaints from the other side of the closing door.

The father and daughter exited next, stepping through the doorway with one last look at the irregular familiar.

Teward's glare was filled with repulse and disgust. Rizz could already hear another holier-than-thou monologue draining out of the nobleman's lips.

Elenia's glance was different. Her hesitant eyes were hiding behind her shoulder. And her shriveled posture felt fragile as it followed after Teward's every footstep.

"Move, fiend."

One of the guards shoved the goblin forward. The other was holding fast to the chain attached to the shackles.

Grunting, Rizz stepped forward with no resistance. "So, what's my new crib like?"

"Keep moving, monster," the second guard stated with an emotionless tone.

And the goblin just shrugged, turning the corner. There, Rizz found an open door leading to a downward, spiral stairwell. "Oh, goodie. I get the basement all to myself?"

"Quiet, or face the consequences."

Rizz ignored the guard, asking, "So I'm not alone down there. Fun…"

Thwack! Thump, thump.

The hilt of a sword was jabbed into the goblin's back. Rizz stumbled and lost his footing for a couple of steps. "Hey? What was that for? I'm complying!"

"Remain silent, fiend. Know your place," barked a guard, shoving the lv. 1 Rizz further down the stairs.

Rizz clambered down the stone steps till he reached a dimly lit corridor with grid-like bars lining both sides.

Whistling, Rizz took a good look around his new, temporary home. "Wow… I'd give it one star, if I'm feeling generous."

Smack!

A hand with heavy leather gloves crashed onto Rizz's back, forcing the goblin forward. "Move! In silence!"

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, Mr. NPC–"

Smack! C-clang!

Rizz was hit again. But this time, it was the flat side of a shortsword slamming into his back. The goblin was pushed against a set of unmoving, iron bars.

"What did you dare call me, fiend?!" The first guard stomped forward and grabbed Rizz by the neck. His sword was pointed at Rizz's abdomen.

Yet, while that enraged guard attempted to pierce the weak goblin's soul with a blood-crazed stare, Rizz snickered in his face. "What's wrong, big man? Afraid of a teeny, tiny gobby so weak I can't even scratch you with my fingernail? Does somebody need his mommy to make him feel better?"

"That's it!"

Ch-Chtink!

Just as the guard pulled his sword back for a proper thrust, the second man knocked the blade from his hand. The second guard pulled back his own shortsword and grabbed the first man by the collar.

"Stop already. You heard Lord Rifton. We can't kill it," the second guard boldly declared. "So let's chain the monster up in his cell and get back to some actual work. Got that?"

"Yeah, I got it…" Kicking the floor, the first guard picked up and sheathed his blade. "The cell's over there. Let's get this over with and leave this fiend to rot."

"Agreed."

"I object!"

Both men jolted their heads around to loom over the snarky goblin.

Chuckling, Rizz raised one arm to the square while pulling the other arm along in his restraints. "Come on, at least hear me out. I'm a good little gobby, I swear upon the Sage!"

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