Wizard Of Cosmos

85 - You Are Just A Burden To Him

“Ash… We can’t find it….”

Freya looked at Ashely who was in a depressed mood. 

“Sigh. What does that mean, Freya?”

“It means there are no places around Heaven’s Gate where players can respawn after death. It is like every other city.”

Freya sat beside her little cousin.

“This isn’t good….”

“Yeah. I think Jason must know about this.”

She had a feeling Jason knew more than he was willing to share with them. He warned them against moving to Heaven’s Gate, but he didn’t tell them too much about it. 

“Did he say anything?”

She looked at Ashley again.

“No. He is saying he doesn’t know, but I think he may be angry with us.”

Ashley felt even more depressed. 

The letter Jason gave them actually got them through to Heaven’s Gate, but the actual problems started rising when they entered the capital of Alexandria. If The Endless wasn’t a game, she would have run back to where they came from by now.

“Ms Freya… Another group of NPCs are looking for our information. The Innkeeper said they are under some kind of viscount.”

They heard Ben’s voice from outside the door of their room. 

“Did they come in?”

Freya didn’t try to open the door. Ashley needed some privacy.

“No. But this is getting very creepy. We can’t even let the girls go outside like this… I mean… This is supposed to be a game, Ms Freya.”

Ben’s voice sounded shaky and worried.

“I know… Just ask everyone to stay inside at the moment. And tell them to log out if they feel uncomfortable.”

“Yes, Ms Freya.”

…

Freya looked at Ashley, and she also had the same distressed look on her face.

The NPCs started spying on them the moment they entered the capital of Alexandria. It became so creepy that they immediately found an Inn to settle in. However, the NPCs were still around, and it was getting increasingly worrisome. 

“We can’t wait any longer. Let’s go and report to the army. It will be better.”

They wanted to find a place to register their armbands in case they got killed and needed to respawn. Still, it was difficult for them to go around looking for spawn crystals. In the end, they sent out the male players as a group to look for one, and the end results didn’t do them any good.

The girls got too much attention from male NPCs to the point where it became harassment.

“I guess….”

“Ms Ashely….”

Before Ashely could answer Freya, Ben knocked on the door from the outside. 

“Yes, Ben?”

“Eh… Mr Derek has entered The Endless. He is telling us he wants to come to Heaven’s Gate.”

“Damn it… Tell him it is not possible at the moment. We have enough problems right now.”

“Ah… Yes, Ms Ashley….”

Ben wondered why this woman hated her own fiance, but it wasn’t his business.

“Sigh. Let’s do it.”

Ashley didn’t see any other options left with them. Staying inside the Inn didn’t look like a great opportunity, either. 

They came to the capital city filled with wonders, but they had no money to spend on anything. Some price tags started with Magic stones as currency. A type of currency they didn’t even hear of until now. 

Some places didn’t give them access even with their letter of introduction, and they didn’t even have the money to stay in a proper Inn, except for this shabby place. The worst part was the creepy NPCs lurking around them.

Things didn’t look good for them at all. 

…

“Thank you for your help, miss.”

“It is nothing. You are giving us points for this work.”

Gillian smiled at the NPC named Elsa. She was a young girl and the caretaker of the women and children rescued by Jason. Her backstory was one of the most shocking stories that came to light in The Endless. The girl lost all her family except her mother and was captured by bandits.

Jason and the others rescued her from the cruel fate that awaited her, and she followed them to Light Shone. After the Crystal Pulse began, she had been the NPC to handle the players who took missions to treat and help these women.

‘She is so alive, and it is amazing how they incorporated NPCs into handling an entirely external website.’

“Gillian, we will wait outside.”

“Yes. I will be right there.”

She smiled at the girls, waiting for Elsa to finish writing the points on her card.

‘Big cities…? But I don’t want to go… Who is going to help these women?’

Gillian saw everything right here. The pain and misery of those who suffered, and their gratitude for the people who helped them. Not only that, she even saw them slowly recovering under their care.

‘Many are leaving. What should I do?’

She came to the game as a solo player, and she had her own problems to deal with. However, she made real friends in this game, and she experienced many things with them during this short period of time. However, some of her friends started to leave Light Shone after the videos of the cities came out.

‘They tell the Crystal Pulse is a scam, but those people put in real effort to help the NPCs. I don’t know what I should think.’

She and several others still decided to stay behind to help, but some were hesitating about their decision.

“Where are the girls from the Saintess Guild, Ms. Elsa?”

She casually asked as she stared at the young NPC girl. Elsa looked much better compared to how she was when they saw her for the first time in Forestedge. 

“Saintess? Oh… Lady Dawn and the others are in a meeting with Lord Jason, miss.”

Gillian clearly saw how Elsa’s tired face brightened when she mentioned the people from the Saintess Guild and Jason. 

“Oh? Will they be here soon?”

“Ah… They are… Here they come, miss… Lady Amanda….”

Elsa’s voice became respectful as she looked over Gillian’s shoulder.

‘Huh?’

Gillian turned around in a hurry and she saw a familiar, mature face. 

“Miss Amanda….”

She took a step back with a respectful mind. This woman was mature, beautiful, and kind, yet her eyes held a great sense of authority and power.

“Hello. Thank you for coming to help here every day.”

“Ah… It is nothing.”

Gillian felt happy to be noticed by a person like Amanda. The leader of the Saintess Guild. 

“Gillian!” 

She heard the low call of her friends from outside the door. They were nudging her to speak with Amanda on their behalf. 

“Miss Amanda….”

“Yes, child?”

“Can we… Exchange the points for real money?”

“For real money? Well… In a way, you can. Exchange them for in-game currency and sell the currency back to us. Why? Do you need some money immediately, child?”

“Ah… Not really….”

She wasn’t in that bad situation, but she knew her parents weren’t rich enough to easily buy her a gaming cabin. They bought it for her out of kindness, and they didn't expect her to pay them back. However, Gillian wanted to see if she could support them somehow. They still had her little brother who was still in High School, and the price of in-game currency was high at the moment.

“If it is necessary, you can do it that way, child. But I suggest if you are not planning to give up on The Endless, it is better to hold on to those points or the in-game currency.”

“I understand….”

Gillian felt much calmer when she heard Ms Amanda calling her child. It looked very natural to this mature beauty, and her voice sounded so soothing.

“Are you looking for a way to earn some money through The Endless? Where are you from?”

“Ah… Yes, Ms Amanda. I am from the USA.”

“Oh… Are you planning on leaving Light Shone soon?”

“Not really, Ms Amanda. I would like to help… These people.”

She wanted to call them NPCs, but she couldn’t bring herself to do that.

“Good. If you want to get paid for some of your work, wait until next week. We can make some arrangements.”

“Miss Amanda? I… I am not exactly in a condition to work ....”

Gillion had many problems in her life, and that was the reason she loved The Endless so much. This place looked similar to the real world, and she could do many things she wasn’t able to do in the real world.

“You can play The Endless, right, child?”

“Yes, but….”

“That is all you need to do. We can pay you for playing The Endless.”

“For real…?”

She felt beyond surprised.

‘A professional gamer, me?’

“I mean… I am not very good at games, Ms Amanda.”

She didn’t want to lie.

“It is alright. We need people who are dedicated to their work. You are already good enough for our standard. If you are still interested, we can talk more in the future.”

“Yes….”

Gillian knew it was the end of the discussion as Ms. Amanda led the other girls into the large stone building.

‘Can I also be a professional gamer?’

Her heart filled with excitement, and she didn’t even notice her friend surrounding her with many questions.

…

“Mother Superior, will that work?”

“It should be enough to circulate a small rumour, but not strong enough to be anything official.”

Amanda slightly smiled, thinking of Gillian. 

People on Earth might have their own difficulties at the moment, but everything would change. People who had their foothold in The Endless would be the ones in control in the years ahead. 

“She is a good girl, Mother Superior.”

Dawn said in a confident tone. 

“I know, and she could be among those people who Jason is looking for. Look into her details. If she is one of those people, we will take her into the Crystal Pulse.”

“Yes, Mother Superior.”

…

“Samson, are we really doing this?”

“Yes, we are.”

Samson kept his head straight. He knew the protocol, and he followed it. Of course, he didn’t have his usual gear and the dress, but he had a duty. The place they stood in front was a small door to a stone hut, but the person they had to protect was inside. 

‘I can’t explain it to you, kid.’

Samson had no way of explaining why they had to protect Jason Hope. He steeled his heart the day Chief Magnus formed this team to not walk out. They would have eventually got a chance to enter this alien world, but he thought this new team would be the fastest way.

Still, he couldn’t tell the truth to his partner, not without scaring the kid out of his wits. 

‘I have to do this for Bennett.’

It was all about his son’s future. The future that would be happening in this strange world.

“What are you two doing?”

‘Gulp! I didn’t even hear her come.’

He turned back and saw the silver-haired woman staring right at them. Her cold gaze gave a chilly feeling to Samson. She had the infamous little girl with silver hair on her arms, and those curious green pupils scanned through them. 

“We are here to protect Mr Jason, Madam.”

He maintained his professional attitude, ignoring the surprised eyes of his younger partner.

“Protect? Him? From what? He might have to protect the two of you….”

‘I know that….’

Honestly, Samson knew he could barely do anything to protect Jason Hope in Yuriel, but he had to start somewhere.

“I… We will try our best, Madam. Even if it costs our lives.”

“Pathetic!”

Her words brought a sense of shame to Samson, but he kept his eyes straight.

“Come to the backyard.”

Amelia turned back and walked into the house.

“Madam?”

Samson felt puzzled.

“If you are going to protect him, you must at least learn the basics. I will teach you the basic Mana Breathing.”

Samson looked at Grandmaster Amelia’s back with widened eyes.

“Thank… Thank you.”

He couldn’t express his gratitude. This woman was a mighty figure in this world.

“Don’t thank me. You are just a burden to him.”

....

Merry Christmas, Everyone.