Reaching a Real Village

[After a couple of hours walking in the wrong direction, the young hero was still completely lost in the woods. He even began to think that maybe he made a mistake and should actually return to Sora Village.]

"I think we all know I'm making the correct decision here. I mean have my instincts ever been wrong before?"

[Your instincts made you jump off of a cliff.]

"Yes, but they also made me pick up this great staff which saved my life, so they're pretty good huh?"

[...]

The further Charley walked on the road, the darker the surrounding forest became. Due to the dense coverage of trees, it was unclear if this was because it was close to night or just a property of this part of the forest.

[Now that I think about it, I just have to ask. Why did you think that the quest I gave you earlier was completely unrelated to my agenda?]

"Oh so you do have an agenda huh? Big mistake there my friend."

[Ugh, I think I have told you many times that my objective is to lead you to the happy ending. That is my agenda and nothing more. But you insist on completely refusing all of my advice and it baffles me.]

"Come on now strange voice, don't get all depressed on me. I think it has been quite obvious that you have been scheming against me every step of the way and I just happen to be smarter."

[You know what? Let's try something different. Would you like to take a look at your stats?]

"Stats? What are you talking about?"

[Yes stats. I'm talking about a representation of your abilities in this world. You will be able to take one look at them and be able to compare yourself easily to others. So how about it?]

"Hmm, yes another common element to the role playing game. Fine, if you insist I suppose I can look over these stats."

[Oh? You will really do it? You're not just trying to bait me into looking stupid?]

"How can you look stupid? You are only a voice. Come on now, let me see these stats before I change my mind."

[Alright, here goes.]

[Name: Charley

Title: Hero

Experience: 1

Role in World: Defeat all evils

Current Task: Return to Sora Village (Please?)

Attributes:

Strength - 10

Dexterity - 10

Agility - 10

Intelligence - 8

Magic Power - 0

Equipment: Torn clothes]

"Hmm, still trying to bait me back to this cursed village huh? And what is with the intelligence stat being lower than the others?"

[I obviously had to lower it because there is no other explanation for you to refuse my advice so often.]

"Seems a bit rigged if you ask me. Maybe that should be 12 instead? I have been outplaying you since the very beginning."

[That makes even less sense.]

"Well I don't know if I can trust these stats if they are so obviously rigged against me. And you have obviously left out my great staff in the equipment section."

[That thing wouldn't even work as fire wood, so how could it be considered equipment?]

"So you aren't going to recognize the real equipment of this world huh?"

[...]

"And what is with the experience tab? Isn't it supposed to 1 / some number, to indicate when I'm going to level up?"

[What? Do you think this is some game or something? That is the amount of tasks you have completed which shows how much experience you have with completing the tasks that you try to finish.]

"So that number means absolutely nothing?"

[Nope it does not. But doesn't the idea of raising that number up really high excite you? Don't you want to try and complete all of the tasks I give you so you can see your stats page really shine?]

While shaking his head Charley replied, "I can tell with everything you say that you are a fool Mr. Voice. Definitely just a fool."

[...]

After walking for another hour or so, Charley finally spotted a clearing to the forest. And inside that clearing stood some shabby looking walls that surrounding a very poor looking village.

There were obvious holes that would let anybody enter or leave the village when they wanted. All of the structures had a sort of black soot stained onto them. And above all, the people looked like they were one step away from either complete despair or death itself.

However, seeing the village a bright smile shone on Charley's face.

"Ah, finally. A village that I can feel safe in."

[...]

[How could this possibly give you a feeling of safety? You are more likely to catch some disease or get robbed of all of your valuables than find safety here.]

"Oh so now you are completely against me going to a village and finding out more about this world? I've got to say, sometimes fighting a battle of wits with you is like fighting a small child."

[...]

The voice remained silent all the way up to the point that Charley approached the guard of the gates.

"Good evening soldier. My name is Charley and I was wondering if I could rest in this fine village for a while."

The guard looked incredible impoverished with various holes in his armor, a couple of blood stains, and even a weapon that was broken, however he still replied, "My god, you look even worse off than me."

Indeed, Charley on the other hand had completely ripped clothes that barely stayed on, a body that was completely covered in cuts and bruises, and he was holding what appeared to be a poorly made walking stick that wouldn't even support his weight.

Yet despite all of that Charley responded, "Not at all good sir. I just happen to be a bit sore from my journey. Nothing a good night's rest wouldn't clear up."

While shaking his head, the guard said, "I admire your tenacity, Charley was it? I would usually warn travelers about the crime problem currently plaguing our village, but I don't think you will have to worry about that much. Anyway, welcome to Dread Village."

Pointing out locations while he spoke, the guard continued, "There's an inn that way and a general store that way. Not much else to see here except a couple of houses here and there. If you need anything else you can go ahead and ask anybody that you see. If it's you I'm sure they would be alright with helping out."

"Very well, thank you very much good sir. I will go ahead and have a look around myself then."

As Charley passed by the guard, he couldn't help but notice the look of worry in the man's eyes, but decided to think nothing of it.

[Hey, that guard probably thought you were some homeless person who just barely made it out of the woods alive.]

"Come on now, how could he possible think that? Did you not see how proper I was able to act around him?"

[Yeah, that probably threw him off even more. I bet you could fit the persona of a noble person who lost all of his belongings and was exiled from his country.]

"Hmm, it might actually be a good idea to role play in certain situations. You say some decent things sometimes Mr. Voice."

[...]

[Anyway, now our young hero found himself in the village called Dread. What strange inclination forced him to work his way here? Could it be that he knew somebody else was in imminent danger? Or could it be that he needed to perform a bigger role than anybody could have imagined. At least one thing was clear, he couldn't possibly be in this god-forsaken place to simply spite his duty as a hero or his predetermined fate.]

"Mr. Strange Voice you are getting a bit too outlandish with your strange ramblings."

[...]