The Start of an Odyssey
Chapter 17 - The Start of an Odyssey
-
"Master, it's morning... please wake-up."
With a sweet and gentle voice, I was aroused by the by Luna who lightly taps me at my legs in order to wake-me up. I was having the time of my life just earlier that waking-up became a hassle. Not to mention that ever since I came from this world, I didn't get much of a proper sleep.
"Yeah Luna," I timidly pointed out. "I'm waking up now..."
I slowly rose into the bed and did a big stretch in order to warm up my body who still desire to lay in the sweet embrace of the bed. Goddammit, I really want to take a full rest but there are still more important things to manage right now. Aside from preparing to leave this Mansion with Luna, I still need to look after the Maids who currently have no purpose of serving in this Mansion anymore.
As the last Crimsonheart of this residence, it's my responsibility to fully take care of everything that's left out in this Mansion.
So, without making further ado, I get out of my bed and began to fix myself. After enjoying some warm quick bath then I began to suit myself. I wore a black love sleeve coupled with black slacks as it is the only clothes I found to be both neat and easy to move into.
While I fix my hair, the deed we did last night suddenly crossed my mind. As a person often gets anxious to almost everything, I asked Luna who was pretty much done with herself and is just preparing her things.
"Luna, I know we've already talk to this last night but, our genuine relationship only began in just about a week." I remarked. "I really hope you didn't regret it doing that with me."
"Fufu~ Master, you're really considerate towards me." Luna giggled as she stated, visibly blushing. "Just like I've said, I will never regret it. That's why, you don't have to worry about it."
"Haha, is that so?" I shyly replied. "That's very reassuring..."
I tried my best to hide the fact that I was embarrassed. But it seems like Luna noticed it which she giggled once again. Damn it, was it that obvious...?
After we're done, I asked Luna to gather all the Maids through the living room. I really want to leave with Luna as early as possible, so I hope they already decided their plain after this.
"......"
While I walk downstairs, I notice the pure silence that emanates from the whole Mansion. Everyone was still on the Cabin so the sound of my shoes as I walk is the only sound I can hear.
I was only here for a week, but the air of melancholy still surrounds me. It might be an unpleasant experience for me ever since I came here, but just like how I was forced to come here in this world, this Mansion is the only place I can call my home.
I let out a small sigh as I remove such unpleasant thoughts—and just the same time, Luna honorifically called me with all the Maids behind her.
The Maids all properly lined themselves up into the living room. I then stood in front of them with Luna beside me and is doing a graceful Maid pose.
"Thank you everyone for coming here in immediate response." I stated in a refined manner. "I plan on leaving early today so, if possible, I like to hear your plan from now on."
Everyone anxiously stared into each other. Then, the Maid who is in the middle nervously raised her hand and began to answer my question. She's the same Maid who answered me yesterday, I guess she's the representative of the Maid or something.
"Young Master, I regret to inform to you, but we still don't know what we are going to do after this." The Maid regrettably said. "All of us here don't have any family to go to anymore so we all are in a bit of a shambles here."
Well, this is a problem... I think I get now why no one is trying to leave the residence despite the inhumane treatment towards them. They have no choice huh...
Luna shot a concerned look at me as I ponder. Don't look at me like that, Luna; I also have a plan in this situation. Hm... This is a bit of a brute force, but it will be faster this way.
I rummage and took something in my 『Magic Pouch』 and vigorously slammed it at the table in the middle. The brown pouch I slammed made a loud jingling sound that's obviously recognized.
All the Maids including Luna was dumbfounded as their eyes widened in surprise. Given their satisfying reaction, they probably already know what's inside.
"Ahem! I can say that you all already know what's inside this pouch, right?" I composedly declared. "This pouch contains "500 Gold Coins" and I plan to divide and give it to all of you."
"Wha—?!"
"?!?!?!?!"
Everyone's jaw dropped including Luna and was nonplussed from the offer I offered without bathing an expression. Hehe, I like making surprising like this.
At any rate, "500 Gold Coins", or should I say "5 Platinum Coins" is by any means not a small amount. Even in the game, you can buy almost anything in it. By the way, this is how to the monetary value of the coins were distributed: from copper coin being the lowest and the platinum being the highest.
• 100 Copper Coins = 1 Silver Coin
• 100 Silver Coins = 1 Gold Coin
• 100 Gold Coins = 1 Platinum Coin
A single Gold Coin can make them live for about a year, so that much is just the right amount. I'm giving them too much...? Ah, don't worry about it. That much is too small to what I'm about to obtain in the future. Anyways, there are currently only 10 remaining Maids left in the Mansion, so I plan to give them 50 Gold Coins each.
Just as I was pondering how to distribute the money, one of the Maids raised her hand asked a question.
"Uhm... Young Master," The Maid spoke worriedly. "We really are very thankful to your offer but, I don't think we can ever get back this large amount of money..."
"Ah, you don't have to worry about it." I firmly pointed out. "I can't just leave you all alone without giving anything, right? Moreover, that much is not enough considering all my family has ever done to you all."
It is also because I really sympathize with them. All of them don't have anyone to go to anymore so giving them this much is enough to sustain themselves and so that I won't overthink if I ever think about them in the future.
Everyone showed a dejected look in response to my remark. I'm sure they never had a good life ever since then.
"Sorry you all had to remember that." I sincerely apologized, then added. "After this and we'll leave this Mansion." I approached the Maids whom I assumed to be their representative. "This much should be enough for you all to make a decent living. Here's the money." I gave her the pouch. "I leave this to you."
"Thank you very much, young Master." Everyone gave me their most sincere gratitude by politely bowed into me in unison.
And with that, the brief important meeting has finally come to an end. Lastly, Luna and I began to get ready to depart.
* * *
Luna and I firmly stood at the front gate of the mansion. Looking at it, I was flooded by brief but memorable recollection. I guess it really is time to say goodbye huh...
Most of this memory were all together with Luna. If I think about it, Luna has always been with me since I was transported into this world. Coincidentally, Luna and I looked at each other; combined with the memories when were together, the two of us let out a beaming smile.
"I've mostly experienced grief and sadness when I was in this Mansion." Luna remarked. "But all the memories from my Mother and Master all came here... so I'm pretty much going to miss this place."
"Yeah," I nodded with a smile. "Me too..."
I made Luna wore the 『Platinum Armor』 that Drake used to wear before his end. The Armor in this world magically mimics the wearers body and adjust it perfectly into the person's body.
Coupled with the black robe Luna is wearing inside her, the combination of her clothes and a full body armor stunningly fits Luna perfectly. She also puts the 『Scimitar』 to her waist just like mine, making her look like a fully pledge warrior.
"Well then, everyone." I waved my hand to bid my farewell. "We'll be leaving now."
The Maids stood at the side of the front gate as to wait for us into our departure. The Maids will also leave and left this place after a few days. It would be bad if another Noble visits this place only to find out it has been housed by the Maids because the owner has died.
"Yes, Young Master. Thank you very much for everything." The Maid emotionally said as she waved back. "Please take care! And you too, Luna!"
"Goodspeed, Young Master!"
"Thank you very much, Young Master!"
And thus, the start of our journey. I began to walk as Luna meekly follows behind me.
"Master," Luna excitedly asked. "Where are we going after this?"
"Well, I had a lot of things planned in mind..." I scratched my chin as I ponder. "How about we apply into the Guild?"
"Oh! Being an Adventurer huh... I'm starting to get excited!"
Luna starts to tip-toe around cheerfully like a little kid. Her black with white pigment hair starts to flutter around charmingly that it made me remember once again why she is one of the most popular in the game.
"Ah!" I unintentionally shouted which Luna twitched in surprise. "Now that I remembered..."
I started rummaging into my pouch and took out the bag that's hideously made of meat. Yes, it was the 『Monster Bag』 that I didn't open last night. Such gruesome thing made Luna react in a conflicted way.
"T-that's a unique bag you got there, Master..." Luna asked in a conflicted way. "Are you sure it is okay to just touch that...?"
"This is the reward for defeating the Monster we fought last night." I replied. "As for your other question, I don't think there would be any problem touching this."
"Heh..." Luna looked at the bag with visible curiosity. "I wonder what's inside of that?"
To Luna's curious question then I opened the bag which magically disappeared. For some reason, I strangely felt the items appeared in my 『Magic Pouch』, so I checked the inventory using the "Menu" and saw the list of items that the bag gave me:
• [Cursed Tissue] - 75*
• 『Antipathy Gloves』 - 1*
• 『The Flesh』 - 1*
Just like in the game, the 『Monster Bag』 gave me materials to make weapons and armor. I took the 『Antipathy Gloves』 and wore it in front of Luna whose curiosity is visibly rising.
The gloves have an appearance of a thin light brown leather gloves which gives the wearer a 5% Critical Rate and has the ability to give enemy a debuff called ⟨⟨Weakness⟩⟩ when equipped.
[⟨⟨Weakness⟩⟩ - Reduce the opponent's damage by 10%]
"Oh, Amazing!" Luna's eyes sparkled in awe. "Did that came from the bag?! What does it do?"
I can't help but chuckled in her vigorous and cute reaction. Though... It stopped midway when I saw the last drop.
"E-eh...?" My eyes widened, clearly alarmed. "W-why does this item exist in this world...?"
I immediately stopped at my tracks and sweat begins to droop into my face. Luna who noticed my strange behavior showed a look of anxious and concern.
"M-master...?" Luna worriedly asked. "I-is everything okay?"
The third drop, 『The Flesh』 wasn't supposed to exist in this world as this item was never in the "Vanilla Game" and the reason is...
This item wasn't implemented in the original game but on the game's "MOD(Modification)". In gaming terms, it is the process of alteration, adding, and providing new content from the game that's created by the players or fans.
If this item exists in the game means...
This world, is possibly the amalgamation of the game and every MODS that exist in it. I was being overwhelmed at my thoughts currently in shambles. If so...
"Alright Luna, change of plans." I sternly declared and started walking. "We're enrolling into the Imperial Academy."
"E-eh? W-why so sudden?!" Luna widened her eyes in surprise, then starts scratching her head in bewilderment. "Aw... I'm so confused right now..."
If MODS truly exist here, then the story would also be different than the original.
Some fans finds the story mode a bit lacking so some of them decided to create a MOD for the game which completely overhauls both the story and the game.
I need to find the "Protagonist" of the story as he will be the catalyst of every scenario of that game that's about to happen in the near future. He's also a cheat on his own thanks to the story that's pretty much the cliché most of the story—the "Opportunism".
In order for the story to continue, I will need the "Protagonist" to go according to the game's story. If ever the "Protagonist" failed to do so, the world will be purged by the higher beings... According to the MOD's extension of the story that is.
Of course, I can also defeat them with my own but if the story went into a different path. Worse, it's possible that those being will appear earlier than I intended, which of course would be the end of me.
Companions are also necessary.
"What are your plans from now on, Master?" As I pondered, Luna asked me.
By how the things were going, someone with a complete knowledge must stepped-in in order to move the story. Originally, Sai Crimsonheart was just a pitiful person that's fated to live a pathetic and embarrassing life—a steppingstone of the "Protagonist" in order to get stronger.
But I plan to change this ever since I became him in this world—and using my knowledge of the game, I will change my fate and live a life that's higher than everyone else.
I've already decided.
"I will become the strongest." I firmly declared.
Sai Crimsonheart, an "Underdog" to becoming the "Strongest".