A Coin!

As I blinked I was suddenly in the middle of a town.

'This system doesn't even sugarcoat the travel option. It appears I have arrived. Now onto finding where I am…'

This was your everyday town, no high level of technology, no magic civilization… a simple town that you can find everywhere in the world. Why would I gain by coming here, why would I, of all the choices offered to me come here? Because somebody gained 'immortality' as well as the power to bring the dead to do his bidding in this world. He didn't fought for hundreds of years, he didn't cultivate or have special bloodline… he simply made a wish, he made a wish and payed a coin to have it granted.

This is 'Gleipnir' the world where one wish can end the world. The 1st coin grants you your wish… the more coins you gather the stronger your wish becomes. I will collect all the coins, not 100… all of them and my wish would be able to reach its full potential.

'I need to hurry and find a coin, even a simple accident could spell my death right now.'

And so I started asking around. Thanks to my appearance I was able to get most of the answers I needed. I didn't know if I was in the correct city but once I asked around I was able to get directions to the closest schools. In each of them I searched for a student name Shuichi Kagaya. At the first 2 I didn't have luck but I found him on the 3rd school.

'Those glasses, that hair, about the right height, yes it is definitely him. From what I can see he hasn't met Claire yet. This is good. It should be the start of the series. Now I just need to follow him until that fire in the woods.'

Spending 2 days following a person isn't exactly a fulfilling way of passing time, but it had to be done. As the 2nd day was about to end it happened. The fire started in the cabin in the forest. As Shuichi made his way towards the location I followed behind him while remaining hidden.

Not long after we arrived at the location. I waited about 200 meters form the location. Shuichi's nose is a terryfiying locator even when he doesn't actively use it. This will give me enough distance to seem like a concerned civilian.

As I made my way towards the cabin/shed Shuichi must have detected me as I heard loud thumping sounds getting fainter. When I showed up he was gone, Claire was on the grass and Shuichi's phone not far away. The idiot probably dropped it as he panicked on seeing the slightly revealing outfit of the girl or smelling me coming closer. Either way it worked out well for me.

As I searched her she didn't have the coin with her, so I had to resort to my plan B.

I took out a piece of paper and a pen writing an address, a time and a short message in it.

Phase 1: Completed.

'I successfully was able to make contact and draw the attention of a coin holder. She never used it so this would be a good chance to take it away from her. She won't give it up without any resistance though, but I have a way to make her willingly give it to me. She isn't afraid to kill so talking in a deserted area is a big NO. She might as well just take my answers and then kill me. I need leverage, something that she will fear and I have an idea. I don't know how long it will hold for but it'll have to do.'

…

As the hours passed I made my way to a restaurant close to the school where Shuichi goes to.

It was 1 o'clock, the restaurant was in full swing bursting with customers and Claire cam walking through the door. As she looked towards me , I wave my hand showing I was the person she was looking for.

In the letter I had provided the location, time and a message saying: "If you want to know about your sister and how to find her, come at the location provided. P.S: Also don't forget to pick up that phone."

Zero: "Hello."

Claire: "Who are you?"

Zero: "Well… you can think of me as a freelance informer. I give information for a price."

Claire: "So you want to sell me information about my sister?"

Zero: "How about I give you a taste for free and then you decide if you want to buy or not."

Claire: "You certainly know how to rope people in. Very well."

Zero: "I can tell you that you aren't as crazy as people think. Your sister is indeed a monster, a powerful one at that, she has also used her powers on you and if you are not careful she will do it again."

Claire: "What do you mean by that?"

Zero: "That was the free information. If you want more you will have to pay upfront."

Claire: "How much do I have to pay for information?"

As she said that I raised up one finger.

Claire: "One? One hundred thousand yen, One million yen? "

Zero: "In this side of the world you can't pay using money. There is a special currency monsters like us use."

As Claire was thinking hard she remembered something. She pulled out a coin and asked.

Claire: "Is this what you mean?"

Zero: "Indeed. So, do you want further information? If not I have to go now as I have other deals to conclude."

Claire: "… very well I accept."

As she said that Claire passed me the coin. I intentionally didn't tell her the value of this coin. It would have made her giving up the coin much harder.

Zero: "Do you have a specific question in mind or do you just want whatever information I can think of?"

Claire: "Where can I find her?"

Zero: "Monsters like us are always on the move but if you are interested I can tell you how to find her…"

Claire: "Let's hear it."

Zero: "The monster that saved you yesterday. It is not particularly strong or weak but it can help you find her. I would advise making him expose himself and blackmailing him to help you. Anyway how you do it isn't my problem, we are done for now unless you want to purchase more information. Keep in mind that if you want further information coins are required."

As I said that I got up and walked out of the restaurant, barely concealing the excitement in my face.

'Hahahahahahaha… I finally have it. Now it's time to have my wish granted.

As I left the packed road and headed towards the ruined castle I started whistling happily. The hardest part that relied on extreme luck or strength to obtain was finished in the easiest way possible.

'Phase 2: Completed.'