บท 16: 15. Back to square one

"Wait, you haven't been to a theater before?" Harvey asked, surprised by her earlier statement.

"My mom believed movies and games were evil, so nope, I don't have any experience. I've seen a film before, just not in a theater."

"Wow."

"I mean look at my intricate hobbies, gardening, books, ballet? It shouldn't be weird that I haven't seen 'The Worm Rings 4: Directors Cut'." Elizabeth remarked, eyeing a poster on the wall of the movie theater.

Harvey laughed heartily, clutching his stomach as tears welled up in his eyes. If only this moment could last forever. Alas, it wouldn't.

A new king was appointed, the city blossomed. However, all Harvey could do was stare at the ceiling of his room, bed-rotting for days on end. He didn't eat, sleep or talk to anyone. After the twelfth day, the innkeeper stopped knocking on his door, merely hearing him breathe through the door was enough for her.

A window of his stats popped up, suspended horizontally in the air. Without bothering to look through it, he swiped his hand, closing the tab. However, just before it disappeared, he noticed a skull icon beside his name. A grim reminder that he was indeed, a murderer.

Gazing at his hands, Harvey realized that his anger and spite had devoured him. Yet, this was the vengeance he had convinced himself he craved all along – the blood of those who harmed Elizabeth. He yearned for them to tremble in fear as he slaughtered them. However, after claiming two lives, the only thing trembling were his own fingers.

Was what he was doing right?

Was asking himself this question right?

Was the concept of his revenge flawed?

No.

He shot up from his bed, he might've fallen along the way but giving up on avenging Elizabeth was something he'd never do, he slapped himself across the cheek several times until his health began depleting. "Why are you resting?" He thought to himself.

Harvey walked out the door and the Innkeeper shrieked as he did, however, he didn't bat her or anyone else in the Inn an eye as he walked through the door. "Resting when you haven't accomplished anything? Why don't you ever learn?"

The first time he let his guard down he was hurt but instead of closing off the gates to his heart, he hoped once more. On the thought that one day someone would come along and take him out of his despair, however, he was just hurt again. "X was right. You are stupid."

Halting in the midst of the road, Harvey observed a surge in activity compared to his previous visit to the city. Players filled the streets, some accompanied by NPCs, while others had animals at their side.

He made up his mind, he'd go to Winterglaides and he'd kill every member of the faction. It was a promise he made to Elizabeth, Fiera and himself and until he stopped breathing, even after he stopped breathing, he would carry it out.

"Regardless... My fight against X wasn't as smooth as I'd have hoped, if my theory is correct then there are nine other faction members, each stronger than X." Harvey looked at his hands, blood stained his fingernails, it wasn't his. "I'll need help... no."

Harvey killed off the idea of getting a partner as quickly as it festered, he wasn't going to do that the third time, however, it was undeniable that he needed help. Harvey looked to his sides, an establishment catching his eye. "Slave Trade Center..."

Getting an NPC would benefit him, but did the chance of it betraying him exist? It was no doubt that the NPCs had changed after they became trapped in the game, it was as if they gained control... sentience. "Stop stalling," Harvey told himself as he reached into his storage.

Retrieving the mask worn by X, the one that had obscured his name, he now chose to wear it for the very purpose it had served. If Hive had disclosed his survival, along with details of his name and technique to the faction, he couldn't navigate freely any longer, particularly now he had a skull symbol accompanying his name.

Donning the mask, initially resembling a futuristic robot's face with a featureless dark visage and metallic contours, he felt its transformation upon wearing it. The once metallic frame morphed into a wood-like texture, and when he removed it from his face to gaze at it, the mask had adopted the shape of a demon mask from Japanese folklore.

"Does it react to the user? Or does it randomize its appearance with every new user?" Harvey shrugged off his thoughts as he put the mask back on, walking toward the Slave trade center.

The room mirrored the layout of a showroom, vast and adorned with cages on the sides, each holding a captive. As Harvey strolled by, he observed the varied reactions of its captives, some filled with hope, while others expressions of disgust. "Good day, Sir. I am Meed. How may I assist you today?"

Harvey shifted his attention to Meed, the assumed owner of the establishment. A relatively short man clad in purple attire, he sported a monocle similar to Drake's, though likely serving a different purpose. "I'm in search of a slave."

"Aren't we all?" Meed spoke in a light tone before turning around. "I would ask about your face but I can understand wanting your privacy kept."

"Thank you," Harvey responded.

"So what type of slave are you looking for? One for battle? A maid? Or... a sex slave?"

"One for battle preferably."

"I see," Meed responded as if he had expected another answer. "There are several combat types in our possession, Wolfhounds, Catwomen and Fenrir's."

"What are their cons?" Harvey inquired as he trailed behind Meed, who navigated through the store.

"Cons... well, Wolfhounds excel in combat but struggle with mastering Magic. They can be trained, but initially, they are quite inept in that regard. Cat women boast exceptional hearing and sight but often tend to be solitary creatures. They live in isolation, and unless controlled strictly by a slave mark, they're likely to abandon you."

"What about Fenrir's?"

"Well, they don't really have significant drawbacks, except perhaps their involvement in their master's life. This is especially true for female Fenrirs. From birth, they are creatures bred to become mothers. They're gentle and may not always seek combat, but their fighting prowess is exceptional. It surpasses that of all the others."

"Is there anything that makes the Fenrir better than the rest?"

"They can learn all styles of fighting and all elements of magic, they aren't restricted to one type of weapon unless their master does so," Meed explained.

"So in short, they're the best." Harvey assumed based on his observations.

"I believe all my products are equal, but the customer can make any assumption he so desires." Meed walked toward a section of cages, "Fenrir's are hard to find, these are the only three I have."

"Why are they hard to find?" Harvey pondered as he looked at the cages.

"Well, a group called the Azure have been raiding Fenrir villages, enslaving their inhabitants, no idea why, however." Meed shook his head, sighing. "Forgetting that, have you made your pick?"

Harvey declined with a shake of his head, approaching the cages. Two females and one male sat inside, glaring at him with anger. Their gender wasn't the determining factor in his choice, instead, he considered their age.

The younger they were, the more receptive they might be to learning combat skills. "I'll take her," Harvey announced his decision, prompting Meed to approach the cage with a key in hand.

"Very good eye you have there," Meed unlocked the cage, encouraging the slave to step out, but she resisted, growling at him.

Harvey observed her, finding his earlier assumption more accurate. The NPCs had acquired human-like qualities, and he couldn't fathom how to explain it.

"She doesn't want to come out," Meed reached for his pocket.

"What now?"

"I'll use her slave link to control her, it's my fault. I haven't disciplined them in a while." Meed put his hand in his pocket but Harvey intervened before Meed could locate what he sought.

"Let me try," Harvey remarked while approaching the slave.

"Grrrrrrrr."

"It's okay." Harvey crouched down, extending his hand. Despite her resistance and scratching, he remained calm. Using his other hand, he prevented Meed from intervening. "I won't harm you. You see, I need your assistance. I'm entangled with some dangerous individuals, and I need your help. Will you assist me?"

"Grrrr."

"This isn't working, Sir. It's easier to zap her until she agrees."

"No." Harvey reprimanded. "If she doesn't want to follow me, I won't force her. This is her decision."

"You're a weird one," Meed responded.

"Look, I'm not perfect, but I'll make sure you're fed and safe. I might not be able to give you everything you want, but if you come with me. I'll make sure I look after you." Harvey opened his palm further and slowly she reached into it, grabbing his hand. "Okay."

Harvey pulled her out from the cage, and once outside, she averted her gaze, likely expressing regret for injuring him, "It's okay." Harvey smiled before turning to Meed, "She's out now,"

"Yes, she is." Meed clasped his hands, concentrating his mana, slowly a purple magic crest materialized on both Harvey's chest and the slave's neck. "I've activated the slave link between you two, you can control her anytime you want with it."

Having paid Meed, Harvey exited the store with the slave, experiencing an unfamiliar sensation akin to leaving a daycare while holding your child's hand. "That reminds me, what's your name?"

"225-A." She responded.

"Your actual name, the one your parents gave you."

"My parents were captured right after I was born by the Azure."

Harvey gazed at her, and even though she spoke while facing forward, he could sense the pain embedded in her voice, it was like looking into a mirror. "Do you want to kill them?"

"What?" She muttered.

"Do you want to kill the Azure and save your parents?"

She looked at the ground for a few seconds before answering. "Yes."

Harvey knelt on one knee, aligning himself with her eye level. "Then, I'll assist you. Once we rescue your parents, you'll lend me your support. Do we have a deal?" Harvey extended his hand.

She gazed at his palm for a moment, the injury she had caused had already healed. While uncertain about her own desires, each day she had spent in that cage fueled her yearning to exact vengeance on her parents' captors. "Yes," She whispered as she shook his hand.

"Good. Now, my name is Harv- Hajun. My name is Hajun," Harvey mused, placing his hand on his chin as he contemplated a name for her. He had no intention of naming her Elizabeth. "I've made a decision. From now on, your name is Erra. What do you think?"

"Erra..." She gazed up, a tear trickling down her face as she nodded. "I like it."

"Alright, Erra, let's get you ready and after that," Harvey rose, his tone growing impatient. "We'll head to Winterglaides."