Chapter 5: Chain Quest Trigger

'What's with this guy' (Akira)

I had watched many PvP Videos and also VR's Tournaments, but the movement I just saw was too fast for human's reflex.

I felt like sweat dripped from my head.

My [Clairvoyance] showed me a future where that Leith will be defeated, but then right when Regi started to swing his Axe, my vision blurred into two.

One where he got hacked by Regi's attacks, and one when he began to move, and slashed Regi's back.

That was the first time I saw 2 visions at once.

'What were those 2 Visions I saw?!'

I could only see 3 second ahead, and usually, during that time, I would know what others will do, but this time, I couldn't even react.

'In the future... This guy will be my Rival'

I swore to train myself with my [Clairvoyance] during battles so I could win any PvP, especially with this Leith.

Ever since he fought and defeated Regi, our party became 1, and they also shared the Quest they received.

I kept quiet all the time just to observe Leith's Party.

'I'll be the one to stand at the top!'

That's right, what I wanted was the position of job from Veil Company.

If I didn't get the top place, I would have no way of living normally like normal students in my University.

As we walked, we got closer and closer to the bandit camp, and who knows what will happen there.

---===---

"Wait! We're not here to fight you!" (Kaito)

"Shut up! You killed my Soldiers!" (Nula)

Kaito shout at her to reason with her, but her answer was a big swing of her sword.

Well, it was normal since Neo's party did eliminate those thieves, and we were with them.

"Dammit!" (Kaito)

"Kai-san! Look for Syula, we'll hold her back!" (Moyashi)

"What?!"(Kaito)

"Leave this to us, We'll be fine" (Neo)

"...Alright, don't die on me you guys!" (Kaito)

Kaito went inside the cave to look for Syula.

Rinka, Yuni, and I went to Neo's Party Side.

Since we were planning to not kill her, we would have just tanked all her attacks, but...

"Regi-san! Parry all her attacks; your strength should be enough to negate all the damage!" (Moyashi)

"Ou!" (Regi)

There was a system called [Weapons Clash], where 2 attacks clashed with each other.

Depending on the strength, the clash could result in either taking damage in the losing side or no damage if both attacks have the same power.

Regi ran towards Nula, and they both swung their weapons and they clashed.

Both of them didn't take any damage, and then they continue clashing their weapons

"Neo-san, should Regi-san took a huge damage, please take the agro! Toujou-san, get the potions ready!" (Moyashi)

"Got it" (Neo)

"Awright!" (Toujou)

Agro, a term used to have the target, to target someone.

Tanks, are those who have high HP and Defense, and they were the one that will get the most agro.

The one with highest agro, will definitely be targeted by monsters/bosses/NPCs.

Usually, while tanks tank the attacks, Healers will heal the tank, and DPS will reduce their target's HP.

However, once again, our goal was not to kill her, and with just Regi, Neo, and Toujou, they felt like they could take it easy.

Still, I felt useless being unable to help. Rinka and Yuni couldn't heal since Healing skills produced agro, and Nula will definitely target the two.

"Onee-chan!!" (???)

The battle had gone on for around 15 minutes, and the sound of a little girl shouting could be heard.

I looked at the direction of the source, and saw a little girl with a short brown hair, and she looked almost like Nula, and behind her, was Kaito.

"Huh?! Syuu!" (Nula)

"Please stop, Onee-chan! They're not here to kill me!" (Syula)

"Then, what are these guys doing here if not to kill you?! They must be the [Agents of Chaos]!" (Nula)

"It's a misunderstanding! We're here to talk!" (Moyashi)

The little guy tried to explain things to Nula, and then she unwillingly lowered her weapon, then sheath it.

I breathe a sigh of relief, and we sheathed our weapons.

After hearing Moyashi's explanation, Nula bowed her head to apologize to us, then her name and HP bar over her head turned from Red to invisible.

"My name is Kai, I'm here for Elder Bhan's request to bring Syula back to the Village" (Kaito)

"I see... You should go home now, Syuu" (Nula)

"But, I want to stay with you, Onee-chan..." (Syula)

While Nula and Syula talked to each other, the others were talking in Party Chat.

(Now what?)(Toujou)

(I-I'm sorry, I don't know how to trigger the Chain Quest...)(Moyashi)

(To trigger a the Chain Quest, we need more information from the NPCs related to the Quest)(Kaito)

(I see, then we need to ask her...)(Neo)

(Then I'll try asking a question)(Reis)

Before I asked a question, I waited until Nula and Syula stopped their talk.

Syula pouted then sat a bit afar from all of us.

She looked lonely, and then Rinka and Yuni went to her side, and played with her since they were bored.

"Nula-san, you're not a bandit leader right?" (Reis)

"Bandit Leader, it seems everyone hasn't regained their memories yet..." (Nula)

"From your answer, I guess you're not a Bandit Leader, but then, who are you?" (Reis)

"... I was once a Knight of Arlis Kingdom, and I was sent here with few soldiers to solve the problem here, then..." (Nula)

Nula looked outside and saw the soldiers that she mentioned, poured into the cave, then calmed them down.

They didn't look like soldiers, but they looked more like bandits instead, and they had just been resurrected because of the Game System.

Normal NPC that didn't have name would be revived in an hour after they were killed, just like normal Players.

Named NPC on the other hand, could only be revived through Special Events, until then, they would stay dead.

"We went to the source of the monsters, and there, we saw a portal the monsters poured in from" (Nula)

"Portal?" (Reis)

"It was opened by one of the [Agents of Chaos], and when we killed him.... We got cursed by him" (Nula)

"Curse?" (Reis)

"[Oblivion], a curse that will cause everyone to lose all memories about those who are affected, anything positive about us will be forgotten in a week" (Nula)

"But, Syula still remembers you" (Reis)

"It only affected those who were awake, and it was afternoon, so everyone was awake, except for Syula" (Nula)

"Hm.... Losing memories, but then why did the Elder say that all of you are Bandits?" (Kaito)

"It was probably because of how my soldiers looked like. The place we were in, was like a Volcano, and that place caused our armors to melt" (Nula)

".... And their clothes were scorched, so they looked like bandits...." (Kaito)

".... Yes... And Father, I mean the Elder, announced that we were bandits and.... We were forced to live in the forest with our nametag as Bandits" (Nula)

“Then…. What was that letter he talked about?” (Kaito)

“We send no letter to anyone, because we’re looked as Bandits, no one would like to receive our letters. It was probably a prank by the boys in the Village” (Nula).

“But, Syula had lost her shoes…. Near the entrance in this forest…” (Kaito)

“Syula was attacked and run after by a Forest Boar, and I saved her. I was sure she had lost a shoe somewhere around where I saved her” (Syula)

".... Ah…. That idiotic Elder...." (Kaito)

Elder Bhan seemed to have gone senile after all these years.

I guess age had caught up with him.

"Anyway... About the curse, is there anything we can do to lift it off?" (Reis)

"I... Don't know... We know nothing about Curses...." (Nula)

"Do you want your curse to be lifted?" (Reis)

Nula was surprised hearing what I said, then looked down with a sad face.

Her father and Kingdom had forgotten about her.

No one wanted to help her, and with her hostile status, everyone would targetted her for being Bandit Leader.

And even Adventurers, would feel that her request was too much trouble, and they would ignore her.

"I'd love to... But I don't know how...." (Nula)

"Then ask" (Reis)

"Huh...?" (Nula)

Nula lifted her head in surprise again with teary eyes.

Her small hand that was strong enough to hold a Claymore trembled, and I didn't know why. Maybe it was the game's program.

Being unable to talk with her parents and hated by everyone, she became scared of trusting anyone, and so she became hostile to anyone but her soldiers and Syula.

But now, in front of her, 9 people had gathered here, trying to help her.

"If you ask, we'll help you, it's that easy" (Reis)

"Why...?" (Nula)

"I don’t know about everyone else, but I have my own reason” (Reis)

I scratched my head then explained a bit more about my reasoning.

“This might sounds rude, but you look like someone important to me, and I regretted that I didn't do anything for her" (Reis)

My gaze fell upon Kaito, Rinka, and Yuni that wore sad faces while looking at me, and I weakly smiled at them, and then looked at Nula's eyes again.

"I don't want to regret anymore. And also, after hearing what you said, I can't just go and forget about what you just said!" (Reis)

"......" (Nula)

Nula looked down to the ground, hiding her face, and I pushed her with questions one after another with higher pitch.

"Do you want to return to your daily lives?" (Reis)

".... Yes..." (Nula)

"Do you want to go home?" (Reis)

"Yes...." (Nula)

"Do you want to talk with your father again??" (Reis)

"Yes" (Nula)

"Do you want to embrace your father again?!" (Reis)

"Yes!" (Nula)

"Then ask!"

Tears dripped down her face, then she looked up at me with tears flowing down her cheek as she answered my last question with a loud and cracked voice.

"Please! Save me!" (Nula)

I embraced her, trying to make her feel safe and to let her tears flowed until she is satisfied.

I knew that it was just a game, but this burst of emotion, feels like Human.

"We will, so don't worry, we’ll save you" (Reis)

[You have triggered a Chain Hidden Story Quest] Nula has asked you for a favor. Quest: Curse of Chaos Description: Nula, an Ex-Knight of Arlis, had received a curse casted by an [Agent of Chaos]. The curse was called [Oblivion] and she had no way to lift the curse. Because of Leith's sincerity, Nula, who rarely showed her emotions in the open, showed hers to Leith, asking for help. Only Magic Experts know about Curse Magic. Ask them for information to lift the curse. Recommended level: ?? Quest Difficulty: S+ Additional Information: Player Leith will receive Affection Points from Nula. Nula will show affection towards Leith. Once the Quest is clear, Leith will be eligible to marry Nula.