Chapter 21: Seito: Old man, hand over the quest. Don't make me do something we'll both regret!
.....
Seito scanned the city's crowds. Most NPCs had standard quest markers over their heads, but out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a flickering icon in a dark alleyway. An old beggar sat huddled in the shadows.
High-tier hidden quest, Seito thought immediately. In games like God's Domain, the grittier the NPC's location, the better the loot.
"I'm going to check out a lead," Seito said, heading toward the alley.
Haruno turned to the other three women. "Are you guys joining him?"
"I'll pass," Shizuka said, lighting a cigarette. "Shift starts early tomorrow. I need some shut-eye."
Sae Chabashira didn't say a word, but she stepped up beside Shizuka, her intent clear.
"I'm logging off too," Touka Takanashi added. "My sister is a handful; I need to make sure she's actually in bed and not trying to summon demons again."
"Suit yourselves," Haruno chirped, skipping after Seito.
Seito approached the beggar. Before he could utter a word, the NPC groaned and clutched his stomach.
"Greetings, young adventures... this old man hasn't eaten in days. Could you spare a morsel for a starving soul?"
"Of course," Seito replied, flashing a professional "Protagonist" smile.
Here we go. The classic 'Fetch Quest' chain. He turned to head back to the main street to find a tavern.
"Wait, Sei-chan!" Haruno caught up to him. "What did he ask for?"
"Food, he's hungry."
"I actually have two loaves of bread right here. Take them." Haruno pulled the items from her infinite inventory.
"Perfect, thanks." Seito took the bread and handed it to the old man.
"Bless your kind heart, adventures!" The beggar inhaled the first loaf in seconds. He patted his belly and looked up at Seito with watery eyes. "Ah, but my throat is so parched... I don't suppose you have a bottle of fresh apple cider to wash that down?"
Seito prepared to head out again. He could tell this old man was a special case—the more ridiculous the requirements, the bigger the payoff.
"Wait, I've got one!" Haruno pulled out a bottle of premium cider.
Seito stared at her, dumbfounded. "Are you a walking vending machine? Why do you just have cider on you?"
"A girl has to be prepared!" she winked.
The beggar downed half the bottle and let out a satisfied belch. "Young adventures... this old man's appetite has been whetted. I suddenly find myself craving a savory snack to go with the drink. Perhaps some roasted peanuts...?"
"Got 'em!" Haruno produced a small plate of nuts.
"Oh, you are truly a saint among mortals!" the beggar cried.
A few minutes later, having finished his feast, the beggar let out a long, thunderous burp and looked at Haruno expectantly. "Young adventures... after such a meal, a man craves a little dessert. I wonder if you have—"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!"
SHING!
Seito lost his patience. He drew his Chokuto and pressed the cold edge of the blade against the beggar's throat.
He'd seen enough. This wasn't a noble sage in disguise; this was a digital grifter running a scam. You want dessert? How about a serving of cold steel, old man?
Haruno froze, her hand halfway into her bag. The beggar's expression remained calm as he looked Seito in the eye. "Young man, you lack the patience of your age. Don't let your temper get the better of you."
"If I wasn't hot-blooded, I wouldn't be young," Seito snarled, pressing the blade a fraction closer. "Cut the crap and hand over the quest. I'm giving you one chance to be useful before I find out if NPCs can be dragged into the Wilds and be 'deleted'."
The old man was only Level 15, and his name was hidden by question marks. Safety zones prevented player killing, but "abducting" an NPC to a combat zone was a grey area Seito was more than willing to explore.
The beggar's calm facade cracked. Seeing the murderous glint in Seito's eyes, he realized this wasn't a standard "Hero" he was dealing with—this was a predator.
Haruno felt a bit uneasy. "Sei-chan, maybe we should just go? He looks... well, he's taking this remarkably well." She thought since she was calm, he was some dangerous type of NPC.
But Seito didn't budge. He knew the game's logic.
The old man slowly stood up. The tension was palpable. Then, without warning...
THUD!
The beggar dropped to his knees and slammed his forehead against the pavement. He did it again for good measure.
"Great... Great Hero! I yield! I'm sorry!"
Haruno: "..."
What was that I said about him being 'calm and dangerous'? Never mind.
Seito grabbed the old man by the collar and licked the flat of his blade with a dark grin. "The quest, old man. Now."
"I... I understand! Here!"
[Ding! 'Mysterious Beggar' has offered you a Quest.]
Quest: The Tragedy of Hero's Vale Description: Hero's Vale was decimated by a sudden demonic onslaught. Most villagers perished. This old man only escaped thanks to the sacrifice of his son and grandson. Objective: Purge the demons from Hero's Vale. Party Size: 2/2 Reward: The "Lost Heirloom" of Hero's Vale.
Haruno peered at the screen. "Wait, it actually worked?"
Seito read the description and looked down at the shivering NPC. "You're a real piece of work, aren't you? Letting your own kids die so you could beg for cider in an alley."
"..." The beggar looked away, unable to find an excuse that wouldn't result in a sword to the gut.
"Can... can I come with you?" the old man asked weakly.
Seito squinted at him. "I wasn't giving you a choice. If you're lying about the reward, I'm leaving your 'Starving Soul' in a ditch."
"Sei-chan, the map says Hero's Vale is about five kilometers west of the city," Haruno noted, checking her UI.
"Then let's move."
With the "Mysterious Beggar" in tow, the two players set off toward the west, ready to see if the "Heirloom" was worth the price of three loaves of bread and a bottle of cider.
...
Thank you for reading.