Level Is Everything

While Ryou and Luna is focusing on their quest, the forum is in an uproar. It was said that the game Aaru was far more than what people expected. Many people have reached level 10 and entered the world map of Aaru and that's really where the journey started.

When they enter the world map of Aaru, the degree of realism was enhanced further. There is no more exclamation mark above of the NPC head and it was getting harder to differentiate NPC from normal player. The most apparent thing is the pain reception that is further being increased to 75% and can't be lower than 50%. Although this receive many complaints from player, but the company heed them no attention. They only said that it was all to improve the realism when playing the game. There is also a new bar below HP and MP respectively called stamina and hunger.

Player now can't walk for 20 hours nonstop as they are limited to the stamina which is influenced by vitality and strength attributes. Players are also required to eat food to satiated the character's hunger level and there's an attribute penalty if their hunger level reach certain level. At the extreme, a player attributes can be cut down to 90% due to hunger. This is also where the lifestyle class player will shine as they will be able to produce and cook food that give boost to attributes.

As the player who have reached level 10 is adapting to the new changes, Ryou and Luna is doing their quest with full attention. Little did they know that keeping watch in the library might be the right choice but searching for the village's chief son aimlessly is wrong. It can be said that the plan to kill the village's chief son will surely happen in the field because the village have non battle protection.

Ryou however is in luck because throughout the day, only one person entered the village's library and it was no coincidence that the said person head straight to the bookshelf where the letter is placed.

Ryou make sure that he wasn't noticed by the person and he followed him into an alley. He also notified Luna immediately and asked her to look out at the surroundings in case the person come out from the other end of the alley.

However, after a while they didn't find anyone coming out from the alley and for sure the hiding place of the killer is somewhere in there. They then decided to walk down the alley and they found nothing.

"Ryou, are you sure that the man headed here?"

"Yes, I am also confused why we can't find him."

They then walked down the alley again before Luna decided to stop because she is tired.

"Ryou, can we stop first? I'm tired."

It wasn't known if it was because of her luck or not, but when they sit down to rest, they heard voices from somewhere.

"Yes, the plan has been finalized. We will act tonight."

"So, tonight near the forest."

After that, they didn't hear anything else. Either they stopped talking or it was the only clue available for them.

"Okay, let's wait for them near the forest." Luna decided that one-sidedly.

"Eh, but won't you get attacked by monster?"

Ryou asked worriedly. It will be annoying if he will have to run away from the tempest wolf if Luna is targeted by it. After all, he has enough experience with tempest wolf and getting tired having to bet his life against it.

"It's alright. The quest that we completed earlier have massive rewards for me. One of it is this badge which will lower the chance of me being targeted by monster on the field."

Hearing that, Ryou feels relieved a bit and then they walked towards the field. They arrived one hour earlier than the designated time for the assassination. It was because Ryou want to check the surrounding area while finding for the village's chief son.

It takes a while but they finally found the village's chief son. It was easy to find him among the mass of player because he dressed differently and rarely any other NPC comes out from the beginner's village to the hunting field. Although in the world map of Aaru, NPC will have bigger degree of freedom and there have been report from player that have exceed level 10 and enter the world map of Aaru. There are a lot of NPC roaming around the field and some quest NPC that have a set of routine which makes it harder for them to receive a quest or turn them in.

Both of them followed the village's chief son but Ryou is getting worried as time goes by. It was because the path that the village's chief son is taking is heading to where Yaga is located. Although it was still some distance away, he is sure that this village's chief son is definitely heading there.

Not long after, he also saw two shadows from behind them and he decided to hide behind the tree with Luna while letting them pass him. They also heard conversation of the two.

"I told you, Nader is going to the monster den. We can't let him meet the monster."

"Yes, as a descendant of Barnak, we need to bury everything surrounding the incident."

「Oh God, I hit the jackpot! Who would have thought that this quest is actually related to Yaga? 」

Ryou looked at Luna and although she is silly and is a handful of trouble, she still has some perks on her. The both of them then followed the shadows and in a while, the assassination scene is going to happen.

"Nader, I advise that you surrender quietly and let us bring you back."

The village's chief son 'Nader' is already have some cut and bruises on his body. Meanwhile the two assassins are in perfect condition.

"Why are you doing this? I just want to make sure that Yaga is still sleeping. What I am doing is of benefit for everyone."

"Everyone except for us. Just for your information, we are descendants of Barnak. If somehow you make a contact with the monster, our plan may be disturbed."

Hearing the name Barnak, Nader is shocked. Definitely he also knows about the name. Ryou also realized that the village's chief seemed to be aware of it too but he for some reason decided to keep mum to Ryou about it.

「I guess I shouldn't believe NPC that easily. Even they can hide some truth. 」

The battle then continues. Nader who is in a bad shape soon gained the lower hand and is pushed into a corner. Luna on the other hand looked nervous and asked Ryou: "Ryou, when are we going to help him?"

Ryou however have different ideas in his mind. As the village chief isn't honest with him, there's nothing wrong with letting Nader to die here. However, he decided to keep one of the assassins alive to get further information about Barnak. Because of that, he need to make a move. It will be impossible for him and Luna later to handle two assassins.

Ryou then takes out his bow and attacked one of the assassin. Because it was a hidden strike from his blind spot, he easily hit his head and send a critical damage.

"Who's there?"

The other assassin's attention definitely disturbed by that and Nader use this chance to assault the assassin with arrow sticking from his head. With Ryou keep on attacking him, it didn't take long for the first assassin to die.

"I don't know who you are friend. But if you help me take down this assassin too, I will give you a big reward. I am the son of the village chief, I will make sure to compensate you accordingly."

Nader was so sure that the helper is going to help him but after a while, Ryou haven't made another move. Luna on the other hand start to nauseating and throw up. It was after all her first time seeing 'someone' died and in a brutal way with arrows sticking to his head. Ryou only consider it as a game and didn't think much although he has some hands in the death of the assassin. He was busy watching the scene of the battle and reading the notification about his kill.

「You have gained 300 EXP from killing Theo. 」

The experience he gained indicates that the assassin he kills is surely higher levelled than him. It also leaves him no choice but to let Nader and the other assassin to battle for a while. He will only come out when he is sure that he will win the battle.

It didn't take long, Nader's arm was cut and he is in the critical condition. The assassin on the other hand received some cuts on his c.h.e.s.t and t.h.i.g.h. Ryou launched an attack and it was aimed to the assassin. It pierced the assassin's foot and it definitely decrease his mobility. Nader in desperation attacked and managed to also cut the assassin's arm. Finding that this is the right chance to finish the battle, Ryou goes out from his hiding place while Luna is resting, leaning on a tree after throwing up.

"Friend, you have finally decided to help me."

Ryou coming out immediately sends hope to Nader and brings doom to the assassin. The assassin also don't want to lose his live and tried to rope him in. "Friend, I don't know who you are but if you help me, I promise I can give you double, no, triple the amount of rewards that you will get from helping Nader."

"Friend, my father is the village chief. I will make sure that you will get suitable rewards. Even the position of vice chief is possible."

Ryou think that the offer is definitely attractive. What a pity he wasn't interested because he got another plan. From the start, he didn't plan to let them go.

What Ryou did next is definitely different from what Nader and the assassin expected. Ryou headed towards the first assassin that die and looted it.

「You have found 2 silver. You have found leather armor (damaged). You have found assassination letter. You have found copper dagger. You have found 3 red potions. 」

「Alright, I can loot the NPC. I have no problem with killing them. 」

What Ryou did shocked the two. Moreover, when Ryou attacked Nader next and killed him with his arrow. He is already in low health and Ryou's attacked send him to die. Ryou didn't care what happen to the NPC when they die. Some say they will die for sure from the world of Aaru but nobody has confirmed it yet. Because no NPC can be killed inside the city and for the NPC that is roaming in the world map of Aaru, most of them have higher level than the player at current time.

Seeing that Ryou attacked Nader, the assassin was elated. Nader died and his goal is completed. He smiled towards Ryou and spoke: "Thank you friend. I will surely give you a big reward for this."

The assassin wants to leave as he turned his body but Ryou stopped him on his track with an arrow. Looking at that warning shot, the assassin is confused.

"Who said that you are allowed to leave?"

The assassin's expression immediately turned pale. He knows very well that he will die in his current condition if he battled Ryou. Luna on the other hand have regained some of her composure and saw the scene playing in front of her eyes.

「How can he be so mean? 」