Bracelet Mission

Wallace squinted as he looked at the weeping girl in front of him, her tears flowing down her face like a heavy waterfall.

She said something terrible was about to happen in this town, but somehow, it's making Wallace irritated. But he couldn't help but feel for her, even though he tried to appear indifferent. But too many innocent lives were at risk in the small town of Toraz, and he couldn't ignore it.

Especially when his beloved "Gaming Dungeon" was located there, holding a secret power he refused to give up.

So if she kept crying like that and not telling a single thing about it, what was he supposed to do? How is he going to help?

With determination painted on his face, Wallace approached the upset girl, aware of the curious onlookers. He stopped in front of her, commanding attention with his presence.

Slowly, he knelt down, his eyes fixed on her trembling figure. The weight of her despair hung in the air, suffocating and undeniable.

"Listen lady," he began, his voice calm and steady, "I understand you're desperately holding onto fragments of hope, looking for any proof that this nightmare is just a terrible mistake. But deep down, you know the truth. It's right here, in front of you." His words had conviction, cutting through her desperation like a sharp blade.

"Uwaaaarrrgghh!!!"

She cried harder, gasping for breath.

Wallace's heart ached at the sight, a spark of compassion awakening within him. Despite his tough exterior, he couldn't bear to see her in pain. It revealed the empathy that still lived inside him, hidden beneath self-preservation.

Still, ab irritation was building inside him, so to avoid it from erupting, he spoke again.

"The person or people you're searching for," he continued, his voice softer now, tinged with sympathy, "they're gone. They left you behind." The words hung heavily, conveying the weight of reality.

"Noooooaaawwwwrrr!!!"

Hearing that, the girl's tear-stained face crumpled even more, consumed by sorrow.

Wallace knew that he wasn't some kind of hero, but who would let this town suffer devastation if one knew he or she could do something, right? Not him.

If there was a chance to save it, he wouldn't hesitate. And if not, well, then he wouldn't. But if there was hope, why not try?

After he confirmed that the Toraz family had disappeared, Wallace stood there, pretending to be deeply affected by the tragic news. But what truly struck him was the sight of the girl, her face streaked with tears and twisted in anguish.

Her cries reverberated through the empty room, breaking the silence like shards of broken glass.

"Noooaaarrrhh!! Noaaawwwrrrhh!!" Her wails grew louder and more desperate, as if she was on the verge of falling apart. "You don't get it! You don't understand! You don't understand! None of you understand!"

In that moment, frustration and helplessness overwhelmed Wallace. His hand shot up, driven by a mix of anger and a desire to snap her out of her immobilizing sorrow.

Pak!

The resounding slap filled the room, echoing off the walls and shocking everyone into silence.

The impact stunned not only the girl but also Mana Knight Rederic, the three soldiers, Butler Mendez, and the maids and workers who had been watching the scene.

Their eyes widened, mouths hanging open, as they witnessed this unexpected turn of events.

Breathing heavily, Wallace locked eyes with the girl, his voice filled with raw intensity.

"Listen, little girl, I know I can't understand, and I don't want to understand the pain that's consuming you. You know why? Because I'm an illegitimate child, condemned to a life of eternal darkness. I've never felt the warmth of the sun. All I've known is the confinement of books. Yet, I don't shed tears. You know why? Because there are others who suffer even more than I do, than you do, than all of us. So, stop your constant whining and tell me everything. Tell me, so I can still save this town, if there's a chance."

As his words resounded with lies in the air, the girl fell silent, her sobs subsiding. Her lips quivered, and her voice trembled as she struggled to speak. "I-I-It's about monsters..." she managed to stammer, her eyes filled with fear.

Wallace's determination grew stronger. He demanded, "Tell me more."

The girl shook her head, her voice barely a whisper now. "That's all I know..."

Wallace stared at her, searching for any sign of deceit. "Really?" he pressed, urgency coloring his tone.

Weakly, the girl replied, "Really?"

But Wallace wasn't satisfied. He needed certainty, a glimmer of hope in this perilous situation. "Seriously, really, really?" he repeated, his eyes widening with a madness-like intensity.

Finally, the girl nodded, her expression a mix of terror and resignation. She continued to sniffle, her fear hanging heavy in the surrounding air affecting the atmosphere around her. And in that moment, Wallace gently patted her head, a rare display of tenderness amidst the actions he made earlier.

"Okay, well done," he said, his voice softened.

Suddenly, Wallace's face twisted, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion, however he managed to put on a comforting smile for the girl in front of him.

He may have looked okay and fine, however, deep down, he had no idea what to do next.

Beast?

Monster?

Those words echoed in his mind without any clear context.

How was he supposed to respond to such vague information?

He desperately needed more details from the girl, a glimpse into the situation's nature, because what can he do?

Order the soldiers what to do while he's not sure what they are supposed to do?

Isn't that the same thing as suicide?

Suddenly, his growing confusion was like a weight slowly settling on his head, making feel exponential heaviness that seemed to drain his thoughts,

Yet, at the same time, his wrist device emitted a loud ring, echoing in his ear, leaving him with no option but to listen.

As Wallace looked down at his futuristic gadget, and then opened the hologram, his eyes widened at the words displayed on the screen, demanding his attention.

[ Ding!

[ There's a problem with an unknown beast in the host's Toraz town… ]

It declared. His heart skipped a beat as he read further.

[ Mission:

[ Ensure to at least murder around 500 radioactive creatures (Animals that are exposed to Magical radiation) and make sure that none of your citizens are harmed.

[ Failure:

[ The host won't have access to a Vending Machine for 5 years! ]

Seeing the outcomes of his mistakes, Wallace's whole body couldn't help but shudder in fear.

He acknowledged that he had been desperately yearning for a refreshing drink earlier due to the scorching temperature in this location.

The water, unfortunately, failed to provide the desired coolness.

Consequently, he secretly hoped to stumble upon a vending machine, and now, unexpectedly, one appeared before him.

However, there was a catch: Wallace had to fulfill a certain condition; otherwise, it would be taken away.

What was he expected to do in this situation?

Naturally, he would seize the opportunity and comply with the requirements.

After all, he wanted cold water! And he will get it!