Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Unique Quest

The location where Mo Tan logged in was still Medi's cabin. He was in Leven's home, and everything around him was exactly the same as before he was forcibly disconnected, except that the time had turned to night.

This was also expected, after all, there was no fire or explosion here. Given Medi's frequency of appearing in town less than twice a week, it wasn't easy for others to discover his mysterious disappearance. This also teaches us that if we don't want to have no one to report to when we're kidnapped or something, it's best to make more close friends. At the very least, we could try to owe someone money.

Mo Tan leisurely sat down against the wall, and the first thing he did was pull up his character panel to continue confirming the content he hadn't had time to look at last time. Of course, before that, he had already claimed the reward for the tutorial quest, successfully obtaining the basic profession of Thief and the corresponding 60 experience points.

So...

【Tan Mo】

HP: 170/170

Stamina Points: 140/140

Acuity Points: 310/310

Profession: Deceiver Level 2 (77/150); Thief Level 1 (60/70)

Faith: None

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Talents: Chaos, Guile, Sophistry, Unbeliever (You cannot choose a faith because you will never hold any reverence for any higher existence. No missionary will waste time on you! None!)

Base Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 11, Intelligence 11, Constitution 7

Civil Attributes: Eloquence 10, Charm 10, Knowledge 9, Leadership 4

Combat Attributes: Guile School Level 6

Skills: Confuse, Tempt, Hide, Steal, Cut Throat

[Given that providing a detailed description of each skill would waste too much space, no individual explanations will be given in the main text until Mo Tan first uses a skill he possesses. Please understand.]

"The conversion ratio for Constitution is indeed what I thought," Mo Tan murmured to himself while examining his attribute panel. "And each Thief level increases Constitution and Dexterity by 1 point each, while Deceiver increases Dexterity, Constitution, and Intelligence by 1 point each. Both also raise my Guile School level... The latter also affects Civil Attributes to some extent, hmm..."

He pondered for a moment, then added the experience reward from completing the tutorial quest beyond requirements to his Thief profession, raising it to Level 2 (140/150). Then he stretched long and stood up, beginning to ransack Medi's cabin.

For a dead person, worldly possessions are completely unnecessary. It's better to benefit one's descendants or the working masses. Items with commemorative significance or emotional value, like wedding rings, are not considered worldly possessions. So, with this mindset, Mo Tan could carry out his looting spree without any burden, nor would he regret burying those two high-quality rings earlier.

As it turned out, whether by luck or because Medi had a decent stash, the loot Tan Mo had scrounged up was worlds apart from the few pitiful potions he had painstakingly dug out as Hei Fan back at the inn.

Among the consumables were: Basic Life Potion x4, Intermediate Mana Potion x2, Gargoyle Reagent x1, Random Teleport Scroll x2, Divine Favor Scroll x2, a Soul-Guiding Vial, two bags of Finely Ground Bone Ash, and an ancient book.

As for equipment, there were: a Ritual Robe, a pair of Cloth Bracers, and a Blood Sacrifice Dagger.

After equipping the first two, Tan Mo gained a small amount of defense and 1 point of Intelligence. As for the last weapon, its quality was mediocre, but it was perfectly suited for a thief.

[Blood Sacrifice Dagger]

Weapon Type: One-Handed

Quality: Common

Attack: Weak

Attributes: None

Requirements: None

[Note: If you'd like, we can teach you over seventy ways to harm yourself, and guarantee... What? You say you want to use it to stab people? Fine, please close the door on your way out.]

"Seriously~" Mo Tan tucked the dagger into his belt and sighed faintly, "If someone could give me a complete equipment guide for this game, I might sit quietly and read it all day just to stock up on my dark wisdom. Now, let me look forward to..."

He opened the only ancient book that hadn't been stowed in his pack and immediately saw the content he had been anticipating.

[Novice Necromancy Knowledge]

Use: Grants you the profession: Novice Necromancer

[Note: You shouldn't have high expectations for the contents of this book. Please, we can't exactly write things like necromancy spells in here, can we? Understanding is everything, okay?]

"Alright~ Understanding is everything." Mo Tan chuckled, casually stowing the book into his pack without the eager rush one might expect to add another profession to his repertoire.

He had already done the mental math in an instant, concluding that at this early 'newbie' stage, learning the controversial profession of necromancer would bring far more harm than good. Not to mention the almost certain reduction in Constitution and Strength attributes and the impact that would have, but just the keen perception of religious types would be enough to tie him to a stake for a nice little BBQ session. He wasn't Medi Levin, after all. The Unbeliever trait had already sealed off any possibility of secretly learning Holy Light Knowledge to cover his other identities.

So, no learning!

At least not for now.

Leaving the hut, Tan Mo stretched comfortably in the cool evening breeze, then pulled up the hood of his Ritual Robe and left Maple Sugar Town without looking back. He was well aware that this peaceful countryside was hardly a suitable place for him to settle, nor would it offer the joy he craved. Moreover...

[Unique Quest — Go to Pato City, destroy the 'Hero' Dave; Reward: ???]

"Though I have no idea who this 'hero' Dave is..." Mo Tan's figure flickered in and out of the night, his eyes gleaming with a strange chaos and fervor, a wicked curve forming at the corner of his lips. "But I have to say, this kind of mission really suits my taste~~"

Just then, as he strolled along the dirt path in the countryside, he suddenly heard a scream. Though it lasted less than half a second before abruptly cutting off, it was certainly no illusion—the fear and helplessness in that voice left a deep impression on Mo Tan.

To his left was a forest, not particularly dense, yet on this night of low visibility, it felt like a gaping maw ready to devour anything that came near. The sound had come from there...

...

The Warm Sun Squad was in a terrible state—terrible, absolutely terrible.

On their way back from the final exam, they had been ambushed. Two Red Ridge Beasts, creatures that should never have appeared here, suddenly emerged from the roadside and launched a frenzied attack on them as they returned. Though these second-year students of Parding Knight Academy all possessed some combat ability, they stood no chance against two lizard-like monsters with sharp teeth and claws, immense strength, and venomous bone spurs that could shoot from their backs.

Moreover, both were adult Red Ridge Beasts, each nearly four meters long.

Just moments ago, the squad's Apprentice Mage had been caught off guard, a bone spur piercing through his left leg, causing him to stumble and fall. Though another student in plate armor used a lance to desperately block a beast that lunged from the air, the other Red Ridge Beast had already pierced the fragile skull of the Elf mage with its barbed tongue, ending her suffering in an instant.

"No... Rona!" The young Thief prowling at the squad's edge let out a pained growl, then swiftly moved behind the knight and yanked him back. Staring into the pale, exhausted face before him, he said in a low voice, "Dave, take everyone and run. Try not to make a sound. I'll hold these two bastards off!"

With that, he spun around and kicked the squad's strongest knight to the rear, then let out a roar. Two gleaming curved blades flew from his hands, forcing the Red Ridge Beast that had just killed to retreat half a step. In the next instant, he appeared behind the other beast, drew a dagger from his waist, and pinned its thick tail to the ground. Eyes blazing with fury, he shouted to his companions not far away, "Now! Run!"

Red Ridge Beasts had extremely poor vision, so in most cases, they weren't that troublesome. Though their hearing and sense of smell were acute, it couldn't compensate for the weakness of near-permanent blindness. It was precisely because of this that Cole, the Warm Sun Squad's Thief, kept shouting, hoping to sacrifice himself to buy his teammates time to escape.

After all, he no longer wanted to live anyway...

Rona, the girl whose face was always brimming with a cheerful smile, would never return. As an elf, she still had centuries of life ahead of her, and her innate affinity with the wind element, a constitution naturally attuned to it, could have granted her infinite potential and possibilities. Yet, she died so easily, here in this nameless forest, killed by that filthy monster in a manner nearly humiliating.

"Unforgivable!" Cole leaped onto the head of the Red Ridge Beast before him, his eyes bloodshot as he trembled, "Unforgivable!!"

The knight, who had fallen at the feet of his two companions, clenched his fists tightly. Only after Cole roared that word 'Run' did he pound the ground hard and grit his teeth, saying, "Let's go!"

"But Cole is... Ah!!" The human girl in the sky-blue robe, standing askew, was clearly hesitant, but was hoisted onto the shoulder of the tall greatsword warrior behind her.

"Little Ai! What do you think an apprentice priest with depleted mana can do here?" The man barked sternly, "If we move quickly, Cole might still have a chance. Don't forget, he's a thief!"

Then the boy, carrying the priest Little Ai on his shoulder, followed the knight Dave as they ran deeper into the forest. Though his movements were decisive, his eyes beneath the visor were bloodshot...

No one knew Cole better than Rada, his childhood friend. He was well aware that, despite his own words about there being a chance, deep down he knew the boy fighting desperately against the Red Ridge Beast behind them would never leave. Because Rona was dead... Rona was dead... dead...

"Rada!"

Feeling the girl on his shoulder frantically patting his back, tears silently slid down Rada's cheeks. He couldn't stop, couldn't look back, couldn't waver. He had to find a way to uncover the one who had schemed to harm the Warm Sun Squad, or else both Rona and Cole would surely die with their eyes open in resentment!

"Rada! Stop!" Little Ai screamed anxiously.

"Shut up!"

"Watch out!!"

"?"

A blinding light suddenly flared, originating from... the silver tip of a lance!

...

Cole was indeed just as Rada had thought. Even though he was now covered in wounds, he showed no intention of fleeing. Instead, he fought back with even greater frenzy. The iron dagger in his hand had already dulled, yet it still carved sharp arcs under the moonlight, slashing, cutting, stabbing, and thrusting at a Red Ridge Beast. But his movements inevitably began to falter, and his face grew increasingly pale.

A bone spur was deeply lodged between his ribs, and every movement brought a heart-wrenching pain...

[But Rona is dead, so it doesn't matter. Shadow Step! Reverse Spin Stab!]

The poison had already begun to spread through his body, his reactions growing slower, his hands weakening...

[My hands are weaker now than my legs were the first time I saw her. What's this? Tear open its wound! Make it bleed! Roar! Suffer!]

Blood loss was making him dizzy. He hadn't dodged that last claw, and his legs seemed to have lost all sensation...

【Then forget it. Rona is already dead. What's a leg compared to that? Make them pay! One last dip in poison, one more slash! Even if it's just one slash!】

His body was sent flying, crashing down beside Rona's already cold corpse...

Kelen stretched out a trembling hand, wanting to caress the half of his beloved girl's face that remained. Her wide eyes still held a trace of lingering confusion and terror.

And death had already arrived with a descending claw from above!

【This is the end... What a shame I didn't confess to you sooner~】

The imagined pain never came. The two Red Ridge Beasts, which had been roaring incessantly, inexplicably fell silent. Cole struggled to look up and found a figure cloaked entirely in black standing with his back to him before the two giant beasts, softly murmuring something.

【Tempt】

Guile School Active Skill

Prerequisite: Obtain the Deceiver profession

Cost/Restriction: 1 Acuity Point, normal language function

Effect: Tempt a target, causing them to view you as a friendly unit. Success rate and duration depend on the target's mental state and the Intelligence of both parties. Cooldown: 1 hour.

【Note: Don't shoot! I'm on your side!】

The Red Ridge Beast about to crush Cole with its claw suddenly let out a confused grunt. Its two bright yellow eyes stared at Mo Tan for a long time, then it took two steps back and stood still.

Not far away, the other beast, which had been poised to pounce, began pacing in circles in bewilderment...

【Confuse】

Guile School Active Skill

Prerequisite: Obtain the Deceiver profession

Cost/Restriction: 60 Acuity Points, eye contact

Effect: Confuse a target, severely impairing their judgment and self-awareness. Attacks become indiscriminate between friend and foe. Duration and success rate depend on the target's mental state and Intelligence (effect doubled on those with decision-making difficulties). Cooldown: 1 hour.

【Note: Check out my dazzling light! Ultrasonic wave! Bluff! Blabbering! Are you confused yet, you bastard!】

With these two exclusive skills of the Deceiver, Mo Tan, who had been watching from the sidelines, managed to restrain both Red Ridge Beasts on his own, establishing a highly impressive presence and creating an initial impression of mystery and power in Cole's eyes.

"Don't ask anything... Follow me." Mo Tan slightly turned his head to glance at Cole. "You have five seconds to decide."

Seeing Cole staring blankly at the mutilated corpse before him, Mo Tan pointed at Rona's lifeless body and added, "Bring her along."

Then, without looking back, he casually picked a direction and began walking.

Cole's body trembled violently. After a moment's hesitation, he quickly hoisted Rona's corpse onto his back and chased after him.

...

Chapter 9: The End