Chapter 20: A detour

Ron opens his eyes, seeing an unfamiliar ceiling....

"Dear!!! He's finally awake." A female voice shouts from the side.

Ron can see a middle aged woman at the door with a bowl in her hands.

A middle aged man, the carriage driver, comes walking in, as the woman also enters and puts down the bowl containing soup onto the side table.

Ron sits up straight and looks at them in confusion.

"Where am I?" He asks.

"Ya don't remember? Ya passed out in my carriage." The man responds.

"Ya've been out for 11 hours. I was started to get worried." The woman also chimes in.

"11 hours? Fck. Where is this place?" Ron asks trying to make sense of his location.

"Don't worry, ya've reached the silvermoon kingdom,tis still the outermost part though. The town of Sae, them folks call it." The man responds.

"I took ya to mah house. Cause ya paid a hefty sum so just couldn't toss ya on to the street. Ya know muggers and all these days running amock in these parts." The man speaks again trying to avoid any misunderstandings.

"Thanks. You really helped me out. Sorry for the trouble I've caused you." Ron can understand the warmth of the gesture, while he smiles and thanks the couple.

"Wash up and come join us for dinner." The man says while grinning at his polite response.

Ron nods as the couple leave the room.

....

Ron tries to recall what happened. He had been passed out for 11 hours was what he was confused by. He hadn't spent that much time in the sea of consciousness, the mask might be behind that as well.

He was getting a feeling he was not gonna like his status screen, but even then he checks.

[Name: Ron Agnis

Title: Apex Human.(Equiped.)

Affiliation: None.

Race: Human

Class: The Fool.

Level: 0

HP: 70 (Vitality: 7 * 10)

Mp: 140 (Intelligence: 14 * 10)

Exp: 0/100

Strength: 8. Agility:8. Dexterity:8. Endurance:7. Vitality:7. Perception:13. Intelligence:14. Willpower:13. Charisma:13.

Free Attribute Points: 25.

-Equipment: -The Mask Of Lies.]

"The fuck!!" Ron curses in a low voice. All his levels are gone. He was level 11 before but it suddenly changed to level 0 again. But his stat points were still there so he didn't think it was too bad.

And then the name of the mask too changed. From the broken mask to the mask of lies.

Ron checks it's description.

[ The mask of lies.

Tier: Mythic.

Details: Heyo... Ron. A pity you were only level 11.. and could only take the test for mere 11hours.

You know it costs 1level per hour only so try visiting when at higher levels. Hahaha. All those tricks I used I had to get the energy from somewhere..so don't be too angry yeah....]

Ron reads this description that seems like a letter by that stupid mask. It seems like it was to blame indeed.

Getting the levels back wasn't a problem for him but what is confusing is how the mask is utilizing bizarre things that he's not seen even in his previous life. It definitely is a wild card.

[ By the way, do check out your class skills... I was sure to leave you some surprises...hehehe..]

The description ends here and he didn't get anything about the mask. It seems it could manipulate the system somehow. Although Ron was eager to learn how it was managing to do this. And what it entailed. Were there any more entities like it capable of such a thing.

And if there were then how would they impact their takeover plan. It was crucial to know more.

But he needed to calm down first. It's not time yet and the mask seems to have it's own purpose and it's certainly not an entity he can provoke at his level of strength. For now though as long as it wasn't malicious he'd simply be cautious with it.

"I need to research more about this fool class too." Ron affirms his resolve. It's definitely a danger to keep the mask with him but opportunity coexists with danger.

His resolve firm, he now checks out the skills, that the mask mentioned.

[-Class Skills:

--Heavenly Deceiving veil: Your presence is veiled. No detection skills will be able to percieve you.

--Deception??: Enter your sea of consciousness to take the test....????

-- Deception Magic lv.1: Deception requires knowledge. Know oneself and know one's enemy and you shall never be deceived.

{A note from your friend the mask: Hehe if you are confused about deception magic, then let me give you some hints.

Deception Magic relies on creating a deception core, separate from your mana pool. As for how to create it.... Just activate this skill when you reach 1000 points of mp.

You can convert mana points into deception points, with conversion rate of 10 to 1.

It's a major path in itself, Not registered in the system so you have to pioneer and find the limits on your own. Hahaha, have fun.}]

"Damnit it seems it really can do as it pleases with my status screen." Ron mutters while reading the messages.

The conditions for initiating this deception magic seem to be tough. He needs to reach 1000 base mp, which won't be happening any time soon.

Knock knock knock,

"Kid, what are ya doin, inside. Hurry up, the foods getting cold."

"Alright, I'll be there in a second." Ron responds dismissing his current thought process. He hasn't eaten anything since he walked through that portal.

It has been events after events. And when he thought he could rest on the carriage, he gets pulled in by that mask. It hasn't been a pleasant journey. He has so much to do and think about but he needs a chance to clear his thoughts and be able to think this through first.

He needs to find out more about what he can currently do. If the fool class is really that amazing to even be able to deceive the system like the mask then he needs to study it further.

He walks into the living room, the carriage driver is sitting at the dining table with his wife. They haven't started eating, apparently waiting for him to arrive.

"Thank you very much for this." Ron says and sits down at the table besides the man.

The food looks and smells quite delicious. There's bread and soup on the table. Quite a simple meal yet Ron's stomach gurgles. The woman hands him the bowl filled with soup and Ron starts eating it with bread. The food tastes delicious and Ron eats to his hearts content and the couple giggle at the way he's wolfing down all the food.

There's plenty food to go around so all of them eat thier fill.

Ron enjoys a peaceful chat with them while they eat.

It seems the couple is planning on moving to the capital, and they've been collecting funds to buy a new house.

There are many dangers on the road so they need to hire guards too and it'll definitely cost a huge sum of money.

While they chat, the man's wife brings them alcohol so they keep drinking and chatting for a while longer.

Ron learns more about the local terrain and he's interested in the recent ongoings around here. It seems people keep mysteriously vanishing in this place recently. It seems there might be a quest regarding this somewhere in the town.

He decides to go to the town Mayor, next morning to visit.

For now he just let's go and enjoys his drinks and decides to stay here for the night.

Although he does need to get rid of the curses. It isn't possible to get it done with so much on his plate already.

He decides to think about it tomorrow with a clear mind.

...

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[To be continued.]